Babbitt in Saint Louis County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The First Test Pit on the Mesabi
Photographed By Liz Koele, November 9, 2021
1. The First Test Pit on the Mesabi Marker
This 28 ton piece of magnetic taconite was removed from the Peter Mitchell Mine near the area where Peter Mitchell, in 1871, put down the first recorded test pit on the Mesabi Range. Pit location: 6,246 yards 40 degrees east of south from this point.
Erected 1958 by Minnesota Historical Society, St. Louis County Historical Society, Village of Babbitt and Reserve Mining Company.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.
Location. 47° 42.742′ N, 91° 56.794′ W. Marker is in Babbitt, Minnesota, in Saint Louis County. Marker is on County Highway 112, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Babbitt MN 55706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Longyear Drill Site (approx. 13.3 miles away); First Diamond Drill Hole in the State of Minnesota (approx. 13.6 miles away); Edmund J. Longyear (approx. 13.6 miles away); This Piece of Rock (approx. 13.6 miles away); Pillow Rocks (approx. 14.2 miles away); Pioneer Mine A Shaft (approx. 14.3 miles away); Pioneer Mine (approx. 14.4 miles away).
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Photographed By Liz Koele, November 9, 2021
2. The First Test Pit on the Mesabi Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2022, by Liz Koele of St. Paul, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2022, by Liz Koele of St. Paul, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
