Minnesota is full of lovely small towns that tourists flock to for their charming downtowns and quaint activities. Many are so popular that, when you visit during certain times, they don’t seem very small at all. But there are still some genuinely tiny towns out there, and Minnesota is full of them. On the shores of Lake Superior, a tiny village stand is the oldest settlement on the North Shore. The town still holds on to its historic charm to this day. Take a look:

Beaver Bay is located on the North Shore of Lake Superior, about 25 miles north of Two Harbors.
Edsel Little/Flickr
Though small, the town has a long history. Established in 1856, it is the oldest settlement on the North Shore.
Beaver Bay, Minnesota
If you've ever traveled on Highway 61, you may have passed through this little town.
Andrew Munsch/Flickr
With a population of less than 200 people, the village is made up of just a few buildings.
Chris.et/Wikimedia Commons
Coupled with the beautiful natural surroundings of the North Shore, this small spread of buildings makes Beaver Bay a unique stop.
Josh Haroldson/Flickr

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Even more unique is an event named for an early inhabitant of Beaver Bay. John Beargrease was born in Beaver Bay in 1858, just two years after the town was established.
Wikimedia Commons
Each year, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon honors this local legend, who was known for traveling through the snowy region by sled.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon/Facebook
It is one of the few sled dog events in Minnesota.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon/Facebook
Thanks to the marathon - and the town's remote, natural surroundings and unassuming downtown - Beaver Bay holds on to a small part of undeveloped past.
Al/Flickr
Given its old-time charm and scenic beauty, this little village is worth a visit next time you're up north.
Andrew Munsch/Flickr

Have you ever been to Beaver Bay? Are there any other tiny villages in Minnesota that you love? Let us know in the comments below!

If you love small-town Minnesota as much as we do, you might enjoy our article about the small town in Minnesota that quietly became the coolest place in the Midwest.

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