Half Day Activities

View cultural and historic items on display in the Heritage Center exhibits

NPS photo / G.M. Spoto

Start at The Heritage Center:

• Explore art and craft of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) community with many museum objects on display

• View archaeological artifacts from excavations from the 1930s to the present

• Watch the feature film - Rendezvous With History a Grand Portage Story (23 minutes) 
• Watch Film Shorts: "Our Home: The Grand Portage Ojibwe," "The Gift of the Birch Bark Canoe," "A Gap in the Hills: Geography of Grand Portage," and "The Men of the North West Company" - Running time for all four is 24 minutes.

• Learn about the fur trade and the colorful voyageurs

• Browse the America's National Parks bookstore

Visit the  Historic Depot:

• Three reconstructed post and sill log buildings (Great Hall, Kitchen, and Canoe Warehouse)

• Four outside areas (Ojibwe village, Voyageurs Encampment, dock and historic gardens (European kitchen and Ojibwe Three Sisters gardens) and read wayside exhibits around the depot area
• Become a Grand Portage Junior Ranger/voyageur - request your free booklet from a ranger at the information desk in the Heritage Center

1. Answer the questions by watching films, looking at exhibits, and talking with living history interpreters around the various sites of the depot
2. Present your completed booklet at the information desk in the heritage center to have your answers checked and receive your junior ranger patch and certificate

• Participate in a ranger walk or talk (30 minutes to one hour)

• Hike the Mount Rose Loop Trail to a stunning overlook of the historic depot, Grand Portage Bay, Mount Josephine, and the gap in the hills where the Grand Portage footpath goes

• Two places to picnic:

1. Beside Lake Superior in the historic mangeurs du lard (porkeater's – voyageurs who paddled from Montreal) camp
2. At the Mount Rose Loop trailhead near the west end of the Heritage Center parking lot

Details

Duration

2-6 Hours

Activity

Cultural Demonstrations

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

The following structures and/or sales areas are closed to pets:
The Heritage (visitor) Center, Historic Depot area (gatehouse, kitchen, Great Hall, canoe warehouse, Ojibwe village, voyageurs encampment, restrooms, Rendezvous historic encampment).

Guide or service dogs for seeing impaired or physically disabled persons are permitted within all park facilities.

Leashed pets are allowed on the trails. 

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Heritage Center & Historic Depot

These activities take place at the Heritage Center and Historic Depot.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

• The Heritage Center and trails are open year round.
• The Historic Depot is open Memorial Day weekend (May 28th) through Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 10th)

Time of Day

Day

Accessibility Information

A sidewalk connects the parking area, which has two accessible parking areas, to the Heritage Center. Two floors of exhibits in the Heritage Center are completely accessible. The sidewalk outside the Heritage Center continues to the crosswalk at Mile Creek Road (County Road 17).Please use caution while crossings as Mile Creek Road is the most used road by Grand Portage After the crosswalk, the path becomes a hardened gravel accessible trail throughout the historic site. The path goes through the Ojibwe Village. A path that does not meet accessibility standards leads down to the Voyageurs Encampment.

A ramp connects the canoe warehouse to the hardened pathway. Interpretive exhibits include the largest birchbark canoes you will ever see plus displays and programs presented inside, all of which are accessible.

A ramp located on the west side of the kitchen, allows entry to the back door of the kitchen. Another ramp from the kitchen’s east side, allows access to the main gate under the gatehouse and a view of the Grand Portage footpath and the Mount Rose Trail which are not accessible pathways.

An accessible breezeway connects the kitchen to the great hall which also accessibly connects to all porches of the reconstructed kitchen and great hall. Interpretive exhibits, hands-on displays, video programs, and ranger conducted interpretive activities that are offered in these buildings are accessible.

Restrooms in the historic site are connected to the accessible trail. Each restroom includes an accessible stall.

Two wheelchairs are available free of charge to use during your visit. Wheelchairs are located in the Heritage Center and in the great hall. Please ask monument staff for assistance.

Large print, audiotape and Braille formatted interpretive literature can be provided when we are given a three working day notice. Language interpreters may also be provided if we are alerted three days before your visit. Please call the monument: 218-475-0123 or please e-mail us.