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.