Mountain Iron in Saint Louis County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Mountain Iron
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010
1. Mountain Iron Marker
The Merritt Brothers made the first discovery of iron ore on the Mesabi Range in 1890, declaring it a "mountain of iron." With this find, their prospectors' camp lost its temporary aspect and began to swell in size and importance. On October 17, 1892, the Village of Mountain Iron was incorporated, an event coinciding with the first shipment of iron ore from the Merritt-owned Mountain Iron Mine*. The Duluth, Missabe and Northern Railway Company was established to transport ore from the Merritt operations to ore docks in Superior, Wisconsin. In trying to extend their railroad into Duluth, the Merritts overextended their financial capabilities. This was their undoing. Eventually, they lost everything to John D. Rockefeller, who had invested heavily in the railroad venture with Merritt holdings as collateral.Despite the Merritts' fate, the town continued to prosper. By 1915, a new village hall was constructed, along with an elegantly finished Carnegie Library. They, along with the original railroad depot and other historic structures and sites, including the Leonidas Merritt home, are part of a Mountain Iron history tour. An overlook provides
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*National Register of Historic Places
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 17, 1892.
Location. 47° 31.956′ N, 92° 37.316′ W. Marker is in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, in Saint Louis County. Marker is on Main Street (County Road 708) just east of Mountain Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located near the southwest corner of the Mountain Iron Public Library grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5742 Mountain Avenue, Mountain Iron MN 55768, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. This is Magnetic Taconite (here, next to this marker); Leonidas Merritt (here, next to this marker); 1910 Baldwin Locomotive (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gunnar Peterson (approx. 3.4 miles away); Oscar Hokka Log House (approx. 3˝ miles away); The Laurentian Divide (approx. 4.8 miles away); John Mariucci (approx. 6.1 miles away); Paul Wellstone Memorial and Historic Site (approx. 11.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain Iron.
Regarding Mountain Iron.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010
2. Mountain Iron Marker
Also see . . .
1. Mountain Iron, Minnesota (Wikipedia). Mountain Iron was founded in 1892 as a mining village in the former Nichols Township. It was named after the nearby Mountain Iron Mine. The city's motto is the "Taconite Capital of the World". (Submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Mountain Iron Mine (Wikipedia). Opened in 1892, it was the first mine on the Mesabi Range, which has proved to be the largest iron ore deposit ever discovered. Mountain Iron Mine was proclaimed a National Historic Landmark in 1968 and subsequently listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its national significance in the theme of industry. The property was nominated for setting in motion the extraction of iron ore on the Mesabi Range, which helped make Minnesota the nation's largest iron producer and the United States the world's largest steel manufacturer. (Submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Mountain Iron Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010
4. Mountain Iron Public Library
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 29, 2010
5. Mountain Iron Village Hall (1915)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 2, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
