There’s No Other Historical Landmark In Minnesota Quite Like This 300-Year-Old Tree
By Betsy Rathburn|Published May 04, 2019
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Betsy Rathburn
Author
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
It’s easy to imagine that the Land of 10,000 Lakes began with statehood in 1858. But Minnesota has a much longer history that began well before European explorers and fur traders settled the area. Much of that history is centered on the Native American tribes that first populated the area. There are still some places where it is possible to learn about the history of these people. One of the best is at Grand Portage National Monument. It is here that nature and history collide.
Grand Portage National Monument is a fascinating place at the northern tip of Minnesota's Arrowhead region. Address: 170 Mile Creek Road, Grand Portage, MN, 55605.
This monument is dedicated to the history and heritage of the land it occupies. It's located on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. Thanks to all that there is to see, you should definitely plan a half day or more at this fascinating spot.
There are several buildings on the grounds, including a replica fur post and the Heritage Center.
Each is meant to tell the history of the activity here. The fur post will show you what life may have been like over a century ago. The Heritage Center was built in 2007 and contains displays of Ojibwe culture, a bookstore, and more.
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There's also plenty of nature to see at this national monument.
Several beautiful trails will lead you to the most beautiful areas surrounding the monument. The northern forest is a place of true solitude. The Mount Rose Trail and Loop is a one-mile trail through some of the prettiest parts of the area.
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Sights of Lake Superior make the trails even more worthwhile.
Most do not venture quite this far north, so your trip is guaranteed to be peaceful. You'll have a new appreciation for northern Minnesota's vast expanse of wilderness.
The monument itself is fascinating enough with its history of the Ojibwe people and Minnesota's early fur traders. It is also home to an historic tree often known as the Witch Tree.
But the tree, also called also called the Little Spirit Cedar Tree, is over 300 years old. It's a northern white-cedar, a type of tree native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern and north-central United States.
The first written records of the tree date back to the 1700s. But this tree - and all of its kind - have held special meaning to the Ojibwe people for much longer.
This type of tree is considered sacred because of its uses in medicine, building, and crafts. The Witch Tree in particular is notable because of where it grows on bare rock near the lake. Tobacco offering are traditionally left at it by Ojibwe people.
Because of its sacred status - and because of past vandalism - this tree is not easily accessible to visitors.
Those who wish to see the tree must be accompanied by a member of the local Ojibwe band. Because it is a sacred place, requests are not often granted. It is up to the Reservation Tribal Council to accept or deny any requests to visit the tree.
