INTERNATIONAL FALLS — Voyageurs National Park is turning 50.
Minnesota’s only national park was established April 8, 1975.
Voyageurs and its more famous neighbor, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, have a lot in common. Both hug the Canadian border, both are best explored by boat — though unlike the BWCA, the national park allows motorboats — and both aim to preserve the stunning rock formations and dense forests of the border lakes region.
The parks also share the conservation efforts of writer and environmentalist Sigurd Olson, who, though more often associated with the BWCA, is credited with naming Voyageurs.
Olson was one of the founders of the Voyageurs Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of the national park. Founded 10 years before the park’s creation, the group aimed to preserve the Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point lakes region.
The Conservancy is leading the celebration of Voyageurs National Park’s 50th anniversary. On Tuesday, April 8, the organization will host a virtual presentation of the park’s museum collections from noon to 1 p.m. and an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. at the National Park Headquarters in International Falls, where visitors can see artifacts and archival materials in person.
But Jesse Gates, an education specialist for Voyageurs Conservancy, said the celebration doesn’t stop there.
“We have a lot of programs going throughout the entire year. We’ll have National Park Week, birthday brewery party, we’ll have limited merchandise, prints, we’ll have a photo contest, we’ll have a scavenger hunt, we’ll be celebrating our new visitor center that’s opening in Crane Lake, we’ll be at the Minnesota State Fair,” Gates said.
“So, we’ve got a lot of things going on.”
Based in International Falls, Gates came to the park as a ranger to help create its dark sky programming not long after Voyageurs became a certified International Dark Sky Park. It and the Boundary Waters are the only such places in the state.
“I educate about why dark skies are so important, mentioning to both the public and to students ways that we can reduce light pollution and enjoy the beautiful dark skies, which Voyageurs National Park is renowned for that,” he said.
Gates often works with students or the next generation of the park. He said it’s important to get kids invested in nature early. He said children have a natural curiosity about the resources Voyageurs aims to protect, like plants and animals.
“I lead field trips and get them to appreciate Voyageurs National Park in hopes that they can love and appreciate this place that’s in their backyard and hope that they will become future stewards of the land,” Gates said.
Voyageurs is one of the least visited national parks in the country, and Gates said even many Minnesotans don’t know the state has a national park.
“I would encourage people to come up to the park and to enjoy your national park. National parks are for everyone,” he said.
“... We’re really excited to be celebrating the 50th birthday for Voyageurs. We have a lot of fun events and activities coming up that will honor five decades of adventure, connection and conservation.”
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