International Falls in Koochiching County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Village of Koochiching & International Falls
Downtown International Falls
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2024
1. The Village of Koochiching & International Falls Marker
Incorporated in 1901, the village of Koochiching was originally located at the intersection of 2nd Street & 2nd Avenue extending east to the Rainy River. On June 15, 1902, a fire destroyed a majority of the village. Following the fire and changing its name to International Falls, the city was rebuilt at its present location on 3rd Street. The muddy conditions of the streets prompted the importation of forty barge loads of tailings from the Little American Gold Mine, on Little American Island near the entrance to Black Bay on Rainy Lake, thereby giving the city of International Falls the distinction of having their streets paved with gold.
[photo captions]
Iltis Drug, 400 3rd Street (razed)
Rauscher Brothers, 444 3rd Street
Koochiching County Courthouse, 715 4th Street
Chicago Cafι, 328 3rd Street
Frederic Hotel, 400 2nd Avenue (razed)
F.W. Woolworth Co., 301 3rd Street
Rex Hotel, 245 3rd Street (burned)
From front to back:
Public Library, 750 4th Street
Northern MN Hospital (razed)
Insulite Plant (razed)
3rd (Main) Street, International Falls
International State Bank, 344 3rd Street
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce
this page online
Location. 48° 36.11′ N, 93° 24.12′ W. Marker is in International Falls, Minnesota, in Koochiching County. It is at the intersection of 2nd Avenue (U.S. 53) and 4th Street (State Highway 11), on the left when traveling south on 2nd Avenue. The marker is mounted on the northwest side of the interpretive kiosk at the northeast corner of the intersection, near the tall Minnesota Welcomes You sign. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: International Falls MN 56649, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: International Falls Passenger Rail (here, next to this marker); Alexander Baker (here, next to this marker); Steamboats on the Rainy River / Welcome to Minnesota (within shouting distance of this marker); Route of the Voyageurs (approx. 0.3 miles away); Welcome to Smokey Bear Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bronko Nagurski (approx. 0.3 miles away); International Border (approx. half
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2024
2. The Village of Koochiching & International Falls Marker
Looking southeast; the marker is mounted on the northwest side of the interpretive kiosk.
Also see . . .
1. International Falls, Minnesota (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The International Falls area was well known to explorers, missionaries, and voyagers as early as the 17th century. It was not until April 1895 that the community was platted by L. A. Ogaard, a teacher and preacher for the Koochiching Company, and named Koochiching. The word Koochiching comes from either the Ojibwe word Gojijiing or the Cree Kocicīhk, both meaning at the place of inlets, referring to the neighboring Rainy Lake and River. The European inhabitants gave the names Rainy Lake and Rainy River to the nearby bodies of water because of the mist-like rain present at the falls where the lake flowed into the river.(Submitted on August 16, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)On August 10, 1901, the village was incorporated and two years later its name was changed to International Falls in recognition of the river's role as a border between the United States and Canada. It was incorporated as a city in 1909.
2. A Warm Visit with International Falls Mayor Bob Anderson
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2024
3. Minnesota Welcomes You Sign & Interpretive Kiosk
Looking east from of 2nd Avenue (U.S. 53). This marker is on the northwest side of the interpretive kiosk (on the right).
Excerpt: One moniker of International Falls is The City where the Streets are paved with Gold. In 1894 gold was discovered on Rainy Lake and a gold rush ensued. Overnight a community was developed and became known as Rainy Lake City, which grew to several thousand residents. Mining continued for six years until it became unprofitable to remove the gold from the quartz rock.(Submitted on August 16, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)About that same time International Falls was becoming settled, and as our main street was being constructed in what was muskeg or peat, someone got the idea of taking the gold mine tailings piled on the islands of nearby Rainy Lake for stabilizing. Forty barge loads of tailings flecked with gold were dumped into the streets for a base. Ripleys Believe It or Not said that our streets were paved with gold!
Credits. This page was last revised on August 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 653 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 16, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
