The Land of 10,000 Lakes is full of history. No matter where you go in the state, you’ll find evidence of past activities. Some of it dates back thousands of years, like Jeffers Petroglyphs or the Hegman Lake pictographs. Other places are much newer – but still quite old – like historic Forestville. These historic attractions are all public places that anyone can visit. But every once in a while, Minnesotans have an opportunity to own a piece of history. Right now in Ely, Minnesota, there is a chance to do just that. The historic community center is for sale by the city of Ely for less than $100,000. If you’d like to own a piece of northern Minnesota history, read on below about this amazing structure:

The Ely Community Center is a 28,834-square-foot building in Ely, Minnesota. Built in 1938, it served the small town of Ely for more than 75 years. In 2014, operations ceased, and the building was put up for sale. It was briefly sold in 2018, but the project fell through. Now it is on the market again for $79,000.
City of Ely
So what do you get when you buy this historic building? For one thing, you get an architectural gem. It's built from Mankato gray limestone decorated with lovely carvings.
City of Ely
Inside, it only gets better. The cavernous building has three floors, which may be repurposed as the buyer sees fit.
City of Ely

Related Stories

Take A Walk Across The Stone Arch Bridge, Minnesota's Most Famous Pedestrian Bridge, For Breathtaking Views Of Minneapolis

Take A Walk Across The Stone Arch Bridge, Minnesota's Most Famous Pedestrian Bridge, For Breathtaking Views Of Minneapolis

 Kids Will Love Exploring Sherlock Forest Park, A Castle Playground In Minnesota That Comes Complete With A Dragon

Kids Will Love Exploring Sherlock Forest Park, A Castle Playground In Minnesota That Comes Complete With A Dragon

 11 Historic Photos That Show Us What It Was Like Living In Minnesota In The Early 1900s

11 Historic Photos That Show Us What It Was Like Living In Minnesota In The Early 1900s
The main floor houses office space as well as the former library. A new library was built in recent years, so it is no longer the community hub it once was. But the large space may continue to inspire in other ways.
City of Ely
The downstairs is a former cafeteria. It comes complete with a kitchen, dishwasher, and dishes. The space is large enough to hold hundreds of people.
City of Ely
And upstairs, you'll find a 5,000-square-foot multipurpose room. This could serve as an auditorium for performances, a reception venue, or many other purposes. This community center is a beautiful diamond in the rough!
City of Ely

What do you think? What would you do with the Ely Community Center if you owned it? Let us know in the comments! And for more information about the property, visit its page on Circa Old Houses.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Minnesota

Featured Addresses
30 S 1st Ave E, Ely, MN 55731, USA