Join the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery and Outdoor Painters of Minnesota for the Competition Exhibit Opening & Awards Reception celebrating the Plein Air Grand Marais 2026. A public reception will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., allowing attendees to view paintings created throughout the week and celebrate this year's award winners.

New for 2026, the exhibition features an extended run, remaining on view through November 1.

Plein Air Grand Marais (PAGM) began in 2008, bringing outdoor painters to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a week of painting, learning, competition, and camaraderie. Since 2018, the event has been organized by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and hosted by the Cook County Historical Society's Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery.

Other Plein Air Grand Marais Events:

• Open Class Awards Reception: Wednesday, September 16 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Grand Marais Campground Rec Hall | Celebrate Open Class artists, meet the painters, view fresh local creations, and more during the award ceremony. 

• Off-The-Easel Painting Sale: Thursday, September 17 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Harbor Park | Watch artists along the shore and purchase newly completed plein air paintings fresh off the easel.

• Birney Quick Paint: Thursday, September 17 | 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Artist’s Point | Watch artists complete a painting start to finish in 90-minutes.

To learn more, visit: outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org/plein-air-grand-marais

To see the most up-to-date JHP gallery hours, visit: cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery

Watch artists as they complete a "plein air" painting in just 90 minutes - from start to finish in the annual Birney Quick Paint event - as part of the 2026 Plein Air Grand Marais.

The event is named after influential artist and educator Birney Quick, who is credited with co-founding a summer program called the Grand Marais Outdoor School of Painting, later renamed the Grand Marais Art Colony. At the time, Quick was on the faculty of the Minneapolis School of Art.

Plein Air Grand Marais (PAGM) began in 2008, bringing outdoor painters to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a week of painting, learning, competition, and camaraderie. Since 2018, the event has been organized by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and hosted by the Cook County Historical Society's Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery.

Other Plein Air Grand Marais Events:

• Open Class Awards Reception: Wednesday, September 16 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Grand Marais Campground Rec Hall | Celebrate Open Class artists, meet the painters, view fresh local creations, and applaud award winners.
  

• Off-The-Easel Painting Sale: Thursday, September 17 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Harbor Park | Watch artists along the shore and purchase newly completed plein air paintings fresh off the easel.
  

• Exhibit Opening & Awards Reception: Friday, September 18 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery | Celebrate 240+ fresh festival paintings with light refreshments and the official awards ceremony.
  

• Gallery Exhibit: September 19 – November 1 | Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery | Explore the full collection of North Shore landscapes on display through late autumn.

To learn more, visit: outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org/plein-air-grand-marais

To see the most up-to-date JHP gallery hours, visit: cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

Marcia Roepke will talk about how she writes TrailTime, her award-winning program broadcast on Grand Marais’s WTIP. She will describe her method of writing that puts the senses foremost and includes our humanity as part of nature. There will be a time for practice writing and sharing.

This session is part of JHP's main gallery exhibition, “Painting Pictures with Words, Telling Stories with Paint,” which features work from Roepke and runs through September 13th. Through her artwork, Roepke paired with stories from "Trail Time," her radio show on WTIP North Shore Community Radio. The work is her personal response to the landscape of the North Shore and the wilderness along the Gunflint Trail.

A kids' scavenger hunt is also set up in the gallery to use throughout the run of the show.

An opening reception takes place on Friday, August 14th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, including an artist talk at 6:00 PM.

Roepke will also host the Big Dumb Drawing Workshop on August 21, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at JHP.

Admission to JHP is free and open to everyone, with donations graciously accepted.

Find current gallery hours at cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery.

Join the Cook County Historical Society at North House Folk School for our annual Planked Trout Dinner and Fundraiser on Tuesday, September 1st, at 5 p.m. This popular event brings the community together to enjoy a fresh, open-fire Lake Superior trout dinner while celebrating local history and supporting the collection, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the history of Cook County. 

While open-fire fish planking originated centuries ago with Pacific Northwest Indigenous peoples and was later adopted across early America, it has deep roots right here on the North Shore. The 1895 Tourist’s and Sportsman’s Guide to Duluth, Superior, and Vicinity urged visitors: "If the opportunity arises do not fail to order the celebrated Planked White Fish." Local commercial fishing families noted that their largest "jumbo" fish commanded top dollar specifically for open-fire planking.

Carrying on a tradition sustained for decades by local groups like the Lake Superior Steelhead Association and formerly the Grand Marais Lions Club, the Cook County Historical Society revived this "old-new" gathering in 2007. 

Tickets are required and on sale now. 

Tickets may be purchased in person at JHP or the Museum (Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.), or here: cookcountyhistory.org/2026-plank-trout-dinner

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Big Dumb Drawing Workshop is a way to exercise our seeing and drawing skills in a relaxed way. Perfectionism is banned. Fun and looseness are the goals.

Materials provided or bring your own big sketch book.

The workshop, hosted by local artist Martha Roepke, takes place on Friday, August 21st, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery (JHP).

This session is part of JHP's main gallery exhibition, “Painting Pictures with Words, Telling Stories with Paint,” which features work from Roepke and runs through September 13th. Through her artwork, Roepke paired with stories from "Trail Time," her radio show on WTIP North Shore Community Radio. The work is her personal response to the landscape of the North Shore and the wilderness along the Gunflint Trail.

A kids' scavenger hunt is also set up in the gallery to use throughout the run of the show.

An opening reception takes place on Friday, August 14th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, including an artist talk at 6:00 PM.

Following the drawing workshop, Roepke will host a second event at JHP titled The Art of Noticing Writers Workshop on Friday, September 4th, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.

Admission to JHP is free and open to everyone, with donations graciously accepted.

Find current gallery hours at cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery.

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

Join the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery for its newest main gallery exhibit featuring work from local artist Marcia Roepke.

Roepke’s show, titled “Painting Pictures with Words, Telling Stories with Paint,'“ combines her oil paintings from the last year with stories from “Trail Time” (her radio show on local WTIP North Shore Community Radio) as a grateful response to the beauty of the North Shore and the wilderness beyond the Gunflint Trail.

A scavenger hunt activity (geared towards kids) will be available throughout the exhibit.

An opening reception takes place Friday, August 14th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, featuring an Artist Talk with Marcia starting at 6:00 PM.

“Painting Pictures with Words, Telling Stories with Paint” will run through September 13.

In addition to Roepke’s gallery exhibit, she will host two workshops.

Big Dumb Drawing Workshop

The Big Dumb Drawing Workshop is a way to exercise our seeing and drawing skills in a relaxed way. Perfectionism is banned. Fun and looseness are the goals.

Materials provided or bring your own big sketch book.

This workshop will be held Friday, August 21st, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at JHP.

The Art of Noticing Writers Workshop

Marcia Roepke will talk about how she writes TrailTime, her award-winning program broadcast on Grand Marais’s WTIP. She will describe her method of writing that puts the senses foremost and includes our humanity as part of nature. There will be a time for practice writing and sharing. Scheduled for Friday, September 4th, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at JHP, this session is free and open to the public.

Admission to the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

To see the most up-to-date gallery hours, visit: cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) invites you to a special live blacksmithing demonstration during Grand Marais's annual Fisherman’s Picnic on August 1, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bally Blacksmith & Metal Shop.

As Ruth E. Allard captured in her book "Stories from Superior's Northern Shore," it was "the heavy clanks, the hissing steel, and the blowing forge" that consistently came from Bally's that acted as "the background heartbeat of the downtown area for over a century." The live demo provides an opportunity to come and experience Bally's as the locals did for almost 100 years.

Can't make the event? You can still visit the Bally Blacksmith & Metal Shop during our regular summer hours! Stop by to chat with our interpretive staff, take a tour, and explore the museum every Saturday and Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. through the summer.

The Bally Blacksmith and Metal Shop is one of the few remaining blacksmith shops in Minnesota still standing in its original location. Built in 1911 by Sam Bally, the shop acted as an anchor for the changing industries of the North Shore during the sawmill boom, the climb of the auto era, the commercial fishing boom, and the shift to heavy machinery.

The shop was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, and finally ceased daily operations in 2009. CCHS purchased the property in 2013 and discovered a century of Cook County history stored inside, including everything from old airplane parts to 17 loads of scrap iron.

Learn more about the Bally Blacksmith & Metal Shop here: https://www.cookcountyhistory.org/bally-blacksmith-shop

Funding for this event is courtesy of the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association 1% Events and Program Grant.

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

Join the Cook County Historical Society for the 4th annual “Stories that Matter: Women of Cook County” event at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery.

This year, CCHS will feature stories from local photographer Maude Toftey, who was a teacher in Grand Marais and a hobby photographer who took photos for the Cook County News Herald, among many other projects. CCHS has around 500 glass negatives of Maude’s photos, capturing life in Cook County in the early 1900s.

We will also feature Joan Drury, an award-winning feminist author, activist, and publisher who dedicated her life to uplifting women's voices through her work Spinsters Ink, the Harmony Women's Fund, and the Norcroft writing retreat. Joan also founded Drury Lane Books and is the namesake behind the Violence Prevention Center’s Joan Drury Award, which recognizes a Cook County community member who is committed to feminism and gender equity through volunteerism, community commitment, personal awareness, promotion of education, awareness, and outreach, and philanthropy.

Admission to the Johnson Heritage Post and this event is free and open to the public. However, due to the popularity of this event, advanced reservations will be required.

Tickets are available here: https://bit.ly/womencookco26

The Cook County Historical Society is pleased to present “Rocky’s Lighthouse Adventure” Book Reading and Craft Hour, with local author Deborah Winchell.

Deborah will read from her book, “Rocky’s Lighthouse Adventure: A Lake Superior Tale,” and host a craft project.

The story captures the bond between a United States Coast Guard lighthouse keeper, the rest of the crew, and a quiet pup who discovers his value through his Lake Superior adventure.

Based on real events between 1954 and 1976, Rocky’s Lighthouse Adventure is set in the middle of Lake Superior at Rock of Ages Lighthouse. Today, the Rock of Ages is part of Isle Royale National Park.

Admission to the Cook County History Museum is free, with donations graciously accepted.

For the most up-to-date Museum hours, visit our website here: cookcountyhistory.org/cook-county-museum

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

Minnesota author Tom Toftey will share insights into his latest project, building on the reflections of his father, Ade Toftey. Ade was a significant figure in local history, known for his involvement with the Cook County Historical Society, his role as editor of the Cook County News Herald, and his long-standing "Remember When" columnist, as well as deep involvement in the Grand Marais community. 

In this event, Tom Toftey, an award-winning author of Unexpected Gifts, brings his storytelling expertise to this personal exploration of family and local heritage.

This event will take place at the Cook County History Museum. Admission is free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

This event is part of the Cook County Historical Society 2026 Speaker Series. Learn more: cookcountyhistory.org/2026-speaker-series

Due to the hazardous air quality, the July 17 Guided Grand Marais Harbor History Tour has been cancelled.

_________________________________________

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is excited to host Borderlands, a collaborative exhibition featuring prominent regional artists Betsy Bowen, Jeanne Hedstrom, Stephan Hoglund, and Heidi Sobanja. Grounded in a long-standing friendship and mutual respect, the show explores a theme central to all four artists: seasonal migration. By dividing their time between the edges of the North and the Southwest—ranging from Northern Minnesota and Canada to New Mexico and Mexico—the artists draw inspiration, energy, and perspective from these vast landscapes, challenging the traditional definition of home.

An opening reception will take place on Friday, July 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The exhibit will run through August 9th.

July is a full month at the gallery, featuring two additional archival updates.

Gallery visitors can explore the new Historic Artist’s Corner in the center gallery, which showcases a rotating selection of historic regional artworks focusing on Cook County townscapes starting July 1. Additionally, a new quarterly rotation in the permanent Anna C. Johnson gallery launches this month, offering personal glimpses into the heritage, harbor views, and wilderness travels of the Johnson family.

Admission to JHP is free and open to the public, with donations are graciously accepted.

To see the most updated gallery hours, visit: https://www.cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

Former Cook County Deputy Sheriff Dick Dorr offers a firsthand account of his nearly three-decade career patrolling the North Shore. Moving to Grand Marais at age 11 and graduating in 1966, Dorr returned to his hometown in 1969 to begin a career in law enforcement.

His presentation and book, Chasing Justice, navigate the balance between duty and compassion in a rural landscape where every call brought the unexpected.

This event will take place at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

This event is part of the Cook County Historical Society 2026 Speaker Series. Learn more: cookcountyhistory.org/2026-speaker-series

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Grand Marais Harbor has a rich history, with many small artifacts left over that one can easily walk right on by without realizing what they are.

For instance, did you know that when walking along the breakwall out to the lighthouse, you can see remnants of a fire tower? Or that you can see what's left of a dock and anchor where large ships used to dock in the harbor?

These are just two of many examples of things you can see and learn about on our newly revived Harbor History Walking Tours!

Join CCHS's Interpretive Specialist, John, as he leads a tour every Friday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. during the summer (weather permitting). Interested participants can meet outside the History Museum, and should be able to walk approximately a mile on uneven surfaces. Kids are welcome!

Tours are free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

Funding for the Harbor History Walking Tours is courtesy of a Grand Marais Tourism Association Mini Grant and Visit Cook County MN.

The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is pleased to present Natural Gestures, a solo exhibition by Emily Donovan.

Drawing inspiration from the landscape, Donovan utilizes historical methods to forage and procure natural pigments from plants and insects, blending traditional craft with a modern approach to batik. Because each pigment is physically tied to the land, her paintings feature a "living mark" where materials like beeswax and organic dyes create unpredictable results. This collection is a visual “gesture” of respect and awe for nature's abilities.

Join us for the opening reception on Friday, June 19, featuring an artist talk at 6:00 PM exploring Donovan's natural dyeing process.

Learn more here.

Admission to JHP is free; donations are graciously accepted.

To see the most updated gallery hours, visit: https://www.cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery

Minnesota author Michael Risku will present a comprehensive look at the commercial fishing industry that once defined North Shore communities from Knife River to Grand Portage, based on his new book, Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota's North Shore (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2026).

Drawing on oral histories and years of research, Risku explores the life of Indigenous fishers and Nordic immigrants, the geography that shaped their trade, and the eventual collapse of the industry.

Risku, who was born into a commercial fishing family and holds a Coast Guard captain’s license, is a professor emeritus from the University of the Incarnate Word and resides in Two Harbors.

Admission is free and open to the public, with donations graciously accepted.

This event is part of the Cook County Historical Society 2026 Speaker Series. Learn more: cookcountyhistory.org/2026-speaker-series