Cook County Historical Society Awarded $195,000 Grant from Minnesota Historical Society for Chippewa City Church Restoration
The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) is thrilled to announce a $195,000 Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grant from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) to begin Phase I of the structural restoration of the Chippewa City Church, the last remaining physical structure of Chippewa City, a historic Ojibwe settlement. Together with a $64,000 matching commitment in staff and volunteer hours from CCHS, the grant will fund Phase I of a two-phase, $1 million restoration process addressing critical structural repairs and long-term stabilization for the 131-year-old building.
Constructed in 1895 by Ojibwe carpenter Frank Wischop on land donated by Ojibwe residents Antoine and Antoinette Fillison, the church served as Grand Marais’ only Catholic worship space and a central community gathering place until 1916, with its final Mass held at Christmas in 1936. The Diocese of Duluth donated the building to CCHS in 1998.
Over the years, ongoing preservation efforts, supported by grants from the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa and MNHS, have included a new roof, a foundation assessment, and an archaeological test dig. In 2024, CCHS hired MacDonald & Mack Architects (MMA) to conduct a Historic Structures Report (HSR), followed by architectural and construction drawings to guide preservation work in accordance with the MHS and the Department of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties in 2025. That survey revealed critical log and foundation damage requiring a complex, two-phase stabilization process.
Phase I
Funded by the $195,000 MNHS grant and $64,000 CCHS match in staff and volunteer hours, Phase I focuses on repairing and stabilizing the core log structure. Crews will remove current exterior siding to salvage reusable material and replace siding where necessary, remove internal wall coverings to access unexposed logs, and execute comprehensive log repairs across the main nave, vestry, and interior walls.
To begin this work, CCHS will issue an official call for contractor bids over the early winter, with a goal of securing a contract by mid-February. Weather permitting, active construction is scheduled from spring 2027 through the end of summer.
Community Involvement & Volunteer Support
Splitting the project into two phases helps manage long-term costs and ensures dedicated oversight. While fundraising for future phases continues, volunteer support is needed to complete Phase I. CCHS will be looking for community members who can help with site preparation, clean-up, siding removal, log repair assistance, consultation, and outreach.
For more information, visit cookcountyhistory.org/chippewa-city-church-restoration-project-updates
This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.