Hinckley Fire Museum
Sometimes we have to confront the hard stories, the real stories—not the artificial, slam-bang action of video games, movies and television—but the more poignant stories of people facing threats to their lives, their families, their homes and their communities. The Hinckley Fire Museum offers us a chance to teach our grandchildren about perhaps the greatest tragedy in Minnesota history.
On September 1, 1894, several fires were already burning near Hinckley. It was one of the driest years on record, and tree debris left smoldering by loggers only added fuel. Two of the larger fires joined and turned into an incredibly intense firestorm, which claimed 418 lives en route to destroying six towns and four hundred square miles of land—all within four hours.
The Hinckley Fire Museum puts you and your grandchild there. Imagine flames that soared so high they could be seen in the Twin Cities! Gaze at the vivid colors of the mural. Watch the movie. View the artifacts. It all contributes to a reality that is hard to imagine but impossible to ignore.
Talk to your grandchild about the heroism of train engineers, hands on the throttle, their cars loaded with people, the heat so intense that the windows burst, the steel rails turning soft, the wooden ties exploding into flames. Imagine standing during the middle of the day, surrounded by darkness, of fire raining all around you, of thunder booming in a dry sky—nails melting, animals seeking shelter, humans not knowing which way to turn. It is a terrifying yet important chapter in Minnesota lore.
As a side note, I should also mention that the museum resides in a restored 1894 St. Paul and Duluth railroad depot, housing artifacts from the railroad era. But the main attraction remains the events of Hinckley’s tragic fire.
The museum is a great place for you to share with your grandchild your admiration for the survivors and your sadness for the victims. You may even feel anger about the careless waste of forest that led to this tragedy. Most importantly, this fire exhibit is a reminder of the will to go on, to rebuild and to start over.
Bonding and bridging:
The events surrounding the Hinckley Fire are truly sad. However, as with most tragedies, the fire also brought out the best in some people—demonstrating tremendous courage and a will to live. You should focus your grandchild’s attention on these attributes.
Tragedies occur every day, from car accidents close to home to the attacks of 9/11 in New York. It’s how we respond during these terrible events that make us who we are. You can only teach your grandchild the joys of living and a compassion for others. That way, if tragedy ever strikes nearby, you can count on her to do the right thing.
A word to the wise:
While in Hinckley, visit the “pit,” one of the places where circumstances converged to allow deer, bear, humans and other creatures to survive side by side, with fire and blackening clouds all around them. Next, pay a visit to the Hinckley Cemetery east of town. With the lines of four trenches and the towering monolith, it is a dramatic reminder of the day’s events.
Age of grandchild: 9 and up
Best season: Summer
Contact: Hinckley Fire Museum, 106 Old Highway 61, Hinckley, MN 55037 • (320) 384-7338 • [email protected] • www.hinckleyfiremuseum.com
Also check out:
Moose Lake Fire Museum, Moose Lake; (218) 485-4234; [email protected]
Firefighters Hall & Museum, Minneapolis; (612) 623-3817; [email protected]
There is no grandfather who does not adore his grandson. VICTOR HUGO
North West Company Fur Post
Step back to a time when French-Canadian Voyageurs traveled on foot and in canoes, when beaver was their quarry. You’ve arrived in central Minnesota between the late 1600s and the mid 1800s, and you’re about to enter the North West Company Fur Post.
The post, which is just west of Pine City, is a great place for children. Inside the visitor center, your grandchild can walk through the exhibit halls that feature interactive displays. He’s welcome to touch some of the furs that were such an important commodity for Voyageurs and traders, and he can watch videos that describe the amazing people who struggled to survive in the wilderness. It might even be possible to play a favorite, old-time game like cat-and-mouse or ball-and-hoop.
A costumed guide leads you out of the visitor center and along a path to the old stockade post. All the while, he shares with you his knowledge of day-to-day life back then. A birchbark wigwam is the first stop, where there is almost always a smoldering fire burning. Farther up the path, you come to the post itself. In summer, a vegetable garden is planted just outside, looking much as it would have hundreds of years ago. As for the post itself, long logs create a large building that was the home and store for the Voyageurs and for the North West Company’s employees.
Drift from room to room with your guide interpreting the artifacts, the tools on the walls, the bedding on the bunks, the table settings and even the toys in a basket. The really nice thing about this “museum” is that it’s hands-on. You can touch the items around you and get a sense of how people lived long ago—a big plus when you have a grandchild along.
After you’ve toured the exhibits, wander along the 1.5 miles of trails through the woods and along the Snake River. It’s the perfect way to end an afternoon of exploring this Minnesota landmark. Seeing how the Voyageurs lived, trekking around the outdoors as they would have done, that’s the way to make these memories last.
Bonding and bridging:
Grandchildren are too often told to keep their hands off. Don’t touch that. Stay away from there. It can squash their curiosity. But it’s nice to know that places such as the North West Company Fur Post are still around. The hands-on approach, allowing your grandchild to wonder, to touch and to feel, is how to keep a young mind alive.
Curiosity is a healthy part of development. It should be fostered and developed. After all, where would we be without curiosity? Still living in caves? Encourage your grandchild to be curious, to ask questions and to seek new answers. Do this well, and he might just invent the next “big thing”—which could make all the difference in the world.
A word to the wise:
Come for the North West Company Fall Gathering, held each September at the post. This event features reenactors, who live the lives of early settlers and explorers. They set up tents and traditional shelters, cook over open fires, and make and sell goods—all the while competing for the title of best all-around Voyageur. Enjoy the traditional music and participate in hands-on activities. It’s fun to wander among them and eavesdrop on the conversations. Ask questions, and be sure to stick around for the festive dance on Saturday night.
Age of grandchild: 5 and up
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