"A JEWEL IN THE FOREST"
In the center of Voyageurs National Park ~ America's motorboat wilderness
Kettle Falls Hotel
and Kettle Falls are a remote spot on the
Minnesota-Canadian border that has
a rich history spanning several
hundred years. Native American Indians fished for sturgeon at the
falls since the early 1700's. French Voyageurs portaged their 26 foot canoes and packs of
fur
around the falls. Gold
miners took steamers from here to Rainy Lake's gold fields in the 1800's.
Loggers brought millions of logs through the dam in the early part of the century.
During the 1920s,
commercial fishermen auctioned off their catches in 100-pound boxes at the docks.
During prohibition, bootleggers distilled and sold whiskey near the Hotel and surrounding areas.
The Kettle Falls Hotel was
constructed in 1910 by timber baron, Ed Rose but was reputedly
financed by Madame Nellie Bly. The William's family, beginning with Bob and
'Lil in 1918,
operated the hotel for 70 years.
Recognized for its significant contribution to regional
history, the hotel was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The boundary between the U.S. and
Canada runs through
the middle of the Kettle Falls Dam.
This unique geographic
phenomenon allows a visitor to stand on United States soil and
look "south" into Canada. The overlook near the Dam is a great
place to do this so bring your camera.
Voyageurs National Park was established in
1975 "to preserve for the inspiration and
enjoyment of present and
future generations, the outstanding scenery, geological
conditions and
waterways system which constituted a part of the historic route of the
Voyageurs who contributed
significantly to the opening of the
Northwestern United States.” The park was named
for the French-Canadian
canoe men, the voyageurs who paddled large birch bark canoes carrying trade
goods and furs between
the Canadian northwest and Montreal. But this landscape was also home to people
that sought to
make their living off the land here through logging, mining, commercial fishing,
and recreation.
Kettle Falls Hotel is open from May thru mid October.
© Copyright 2010 All Rights
Reserved
Voyageur Enterprises
of Kabetogama, Inc.
Legal Terms & Conditions