Near Two Harbors in Lake County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Silver Creek Cliff

Photographed By John Neitz, August 21, 2021

1. Silver Creek Cliff Marker

Inscription. It looks out upon the waters of Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake in the world, known by the Chippewas as Kitchi Gummi. From this point the lake extends easterly 400 miles and westerly 30 miles. Raddison and Grosseillers canoed this lake 200 years ago. A little later Marquette was at the Apostle Islands, thirty four miles east of this cliff.

In 1679 Daniel De Greysolon, Sieur Duluth passed here. Many traders, missionaries, and explorers have passed here since. The Cree Indians lived here. They were succeeded by the Chippewas, who often crossed the lake in canoes. Now, each year, thousands of cargo laden ships intersect the course of those Indian canoes. Two Harbors, called Wassewining by the Chippewas, lies four miles southwest of this highway and lake. To the northeast the highway leads to the Pigeon River, the international boundary, 119 miles distant. Lake County extends 100 miles to the north through a labyrinth of lakes.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 47° 4.13′ N, 91° 35.528′ W. Marker is near Two Harbors, Minnesota, in Lake County. Marker can be reached from Minnesota Route 61 at milepost 30, on the right when

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traveling north. The Silver Creek Cliff Wayside is located on the right after emerging from the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel. It is located on the Gichi Gami State Trail approximately 700' southwest of the wayside parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Two Harbors MN 55616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lake Superior Agate (approx. 3.2 miles away); World War I German Cannon (approx. 5 miles away); Thomas Owens Memorial Park (approx. 5 miles away); 50th Anniversary of First Shipment of Iron Ore From Minnesota (approx. 5 miles away); John Dwan Office Building (approx. 5 miles away); Duluth and Iron Range Depot (approx. 5.1 miles away); Hand Car, Velocipede, Sleigh, Station Wagon (approx. 5.1 miles away); The Two Harbors Ore Docks (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Two Harbors.

More about this marker. The marker is located along the former roadway of Highway 61 where it ran along a cliffside on the Lake Superior shoreline.

Regarding Silver Creek Cliff. In 1994, the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel was completed and the former cliffside roadway has since been replaced by the Gichi Gami State Trail, a paved walking and bicycling route.

Photographed By John Neitz, August 21, 2021

2. Silver Creek Cliff Marker

Looking from the Gitchi Gami State Trail at the marker and accompanying interpretive signs with lake Superior in the background.

Photographed By John Neitz, August 21, 2021

3. Silver Creek Cliff Marker

Looking northeast along the Gitchi Gami State Trail with Silver Creek Cliff on the left and Lake Superior on the right.

Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Neitz, August 21, 2021

4. Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel

The northeast tunnel entrance on Minnesota Highway 61 as seen from the Gitchi Gami Trail near the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2021, by John Neitz of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 27, 2021, by John Neitz of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.