Lake Superior--Naniboujou

I spent the night in a state park just south of Grand Marais...

 

Then drove into Grand Marais the next morning to have breakfast at the marina overlooking the town.

Let me share my North Shore breakfast:  Banana bread from Deb Middleton, tomato and  egg from a roadside stand on way to Duluth, last baked sweet potato from Louisiana and finally some local smoked fish.    

More breakfast view...

My neighbors...

...and more neighbors--with birdhouses.

I stopped at the Gunflint Tavern to look up a friend of a friend but didn't have any luck.  

 Then back on the road.

I love the geese--they are almost tame which probably isn't a good thing.

Just a few miles north of Grand Marais I came upon this lodge and (per Jeanie's advice) stopped in to take a few pictures.

Naniboujou Lodge was first conceived in the 1920's as an ultra-exclusive private club.

Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Ring Lardner were among its charter members.

When the stock market collapsed on 'Black Friday' precipitating the 1929 depression, the club began to fail.  In the mid-1930's the club reached a state of financial shambles. Throughout the years the lodge has been owned and operated by various corporations or private individuals and families.  

The Hall is brilliantly decorated in designs of the Cree Indians, as bright and colorful as when it was first painted by Antoine Gouffee in the 20s.

It is in full operation now, seems to be doing very well and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It also boasts Minnesota's largest native rock fireplace --200 tons worth that stands at the end of the dining room.