Before His Time

The story of the giant actually began long before he was invented. The catchy jingle used in advertising refers to the “Valley of the Jolly Green Giant”. This is actually the Minnesota River Valley that is home to La Sueur. We learned that this city about 60 miles away was the original home of the Minnesota Valley Canning Company. Here they began canning vegetables in 1903. It would take until 1925 before the name Green Giant first appeared. The name actually refers to a rather large variety of pea.

Gaining Ground

When the salespeople for the Le Sueur brand approached other companies they discovered no one wanted to sell this new pea variety. While larger than average, they retained their tender sweetness. Minnesota Canning decided to begin selling them under their own newly created brand. It was easy to come up with a name since the company had chosen to highlight the bigger size of their peas. The iconic Green Giant began life as a wild-haired creature, which barely resembles today’s symbol. Dressed in a bearskin, it looked more like a caveman.

Here He Comes

By the mid-1930s, the giant had gained his trademark green, leafy suit. He had also gathered another word in his name and now was known as the Jolly Green Giant. The mid-1950s were the time for his first television appearance and a few years later his booming voice joined him. That was when “Ho, Ho, Ho” became his familiar tagline. We grew up hearing this phrase over and over. All of this history still didn’t explain why he migrated to Blue Earth.

The Green Daddy

Crystal’s family is from nearby Fairmont, Minnesota, so we have made the trip north many times over the past 40 years. The familiar statue, that is always drawing a crowd, was already in place by then. In fact, it was 1979 when he was brought to this city. It was a local radio station owner who made this dream come true. Paul Hedberg was the creator of a talk show called “Welcome Travelers”. It featured interviews with people passing through Blue Earth. Their reward was Green Giant canned vegetables. Often he was asked for more details about the lovable long-legged icon.

Why Blue Earth

Interstate 90 is the most direct route across southern Minnesota. When the final pathway for this freeway was completed, it passed just north of Blue Earth. Hedberg, along with other city leaders, saw an opportunity to keep drawing a crowd off of the highway. With approval from the Green Giant Company, fundraising began in earnest. It only took about a week to secure the $50,000 needed to move forward. It must have been quite a sight when the 8000 lbs. of green behemoth was lifted with a crane.

Sprouting Friends

Those of you who grew up in the early 1970s may remember the introduction of Sprout. This pint-sized version of the big green guy was designed to appeal to kids. Our television shows were peppered with commercials looking at inspiring healthier food choices. On into the 1980s, Green Giant would use their green duo to teach us about growing, harvesting, and canning the best vegetables in the world. When we visited Blue Earth, we spotted a bunch of these little guys decorating streets around the city.

Drawing a Crowd

While Blue Earth is far from our visit to Minnesota’s North Shores, it is not without its own interesting history. After so many years of spotting the Jolly Green Giant on our way to and from Fairmont, it was good for us to finally get a closer look at the past. We never realized all of the steps that led to the creation and installation of this massive statue. While I haven’t spent nearly as much time in the area as Crystal and her mom, I think this museum was eye-opening for all of us. Have you ever seen the Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota?

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Why Pie?

This trip included Crystal’s mom, Frieda, who was as excited as we were to go exploring. Heading north out of Duluth, we had cruised the shoreline for visits to Splitrock Lighthouse and Gooseberry Falls. As we traversed the landscape, our attention fell on a couple of rustic sites that touted plenty of pie. Passing by in the morning, we decided to save this particular treat for our return trip. The two main choices are Betty’s Pies and Rustic Inn Cafe. As we made our way back to the south, it was the latter that we came to first. No reason to postpone the inevitable, so we pulled off the road and put our name on the waiting list.

Why Not Dessert First?

While we waited, we perused their gift shop and found lots of interesting items to investigate. Soon we were summoned by the host and seated in the dining room. After a morning filled with adventure, our appetites were plentiful. It was decided that we would begin with a late lunch because we knew we would have room for pie afterward. Handhelds were the choice of all of us and we reminisced about our recent excursions. As we began to fill up, the power of pie was beckoning us to save room for the main event.

Power of Pie

As we were checking in, we made note of the blackboard listing the various pie choices. Rustic Inn Cafe offers half a dozen cream pies and the same amount of fruit pies. They also showcase three crumb versions, so the choices are plentiful. At certain times they will include a few seasonal offerings, so choosing was even more difficult. The question came down to how best would we manage a fair sampling of their desserts. In the end, we each gravitated to one that sounded most appealing. Crystal had no qualms choosing the Caramel Apple Pecan, which perfectly blends a grouping of flavors. Her mom and I were thrilled to sample a bite from this sweet creation.

Liquid Gold

Frieda struggled with her choice, as she found many that sounded intriguing. In the end, she selected the Raspberry Cream, which offers a light and fluffy texture. I’m not as big of a fan of raspberry as the two of them, but I did sample a bite for research’s sake. It wasn’t tart as I had expected as it uses raspberry cream cheese mixture for a base. My selection was the 5-Layer Chocolate, which is a mixture of flavors. I recognized chocolate cream, heavy cream, chocolate ganache, and meringue in the mix. All of the pies had the same flaky crust holding in all of the flavors.

One for the Road

Our long ride back to Fairmont, Minnesota was filled with the memories of our recent tasting experience. The power of pie had once again overwhelmed us with its ability to make a good meal great. The miles were filled with discussion of the day’s activities, as well the plans for the coming ones. Our visit to the North Shores had piqued our interest in seeing more of this scenic territory. It looks like there will have to be return visits in the future. Have you ever visited this area?  If so, we’d love to hear some of your favorite stops in the comments below.

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Most Dangerous Waters

Driving along the coastal road that leads from Duluth, it’s easy to imagine the landscape in an unadulterated state. When early explorers discovered the presence of immense iron ore fields, the value of the lands increased. This area would become a key component of the Industrial Revolution. With few roads available through the wilderness, products had to move by water. A steady supply of iron ore would pass across the Great Lakes on its way to the steel plants to the east.

Unprecedented Disaster

The dangers of traversing Lake Superior were always present, but it was the fierce gales of November that created the most danger. While there had been single shipwrecks for many years, it would be November of 1905 that would create the call for change. A big storm had crossed the lake on November 24th, bringing 60 miles per hour winds. History told the captains that another big storm was unlikely to follow on its heels. November 25th dawned with clearing skies that brought the promise of safe sailing. Many ships clamored to begin their journey across the 200 miles of open water. By the morning of November 27th, the weather bureau was seeing troubling signs that two weather systems were fighting for dominance as they approached Lake Superior.

Call for Change

The warm humid air flowing up from the Gulf of Mexico was colliding with cold air dropping in from Canada. The resulting winds were upward of 70 miles per hour sweeping across the waters. When the storm struck, the winds suddenly shifted to blow from the northeast. It ushered in thick snowfall that reduced visibility, as the waves grew. In an age before satellites and GPS, the lack of sightlines made traversing the open waters even more perilous. As the fierce gales bore down on the crafts, disaster set in. One ship was grounded within sight of the residents of Duluth. Many would witness firsthand the violence that the dangerous waters can dish as it pushes ships into the rocky North Shores. The loss or damage of 29 ships created the need for better ways to warn sailors.

Finding a Solution

About a third of the damaged ships were the property of the U.S. Steel company. A lobby delegation was formed and sent to Washington to demand a light station. A location was chosen that lay about 45 miles up the shore from Duluth. Originally called Stony Point, the lobbyists referred to it as Split Rock. In 1907, Congress approved $75,000 for a lighthouse and fog signal. Construction was completed in 1910 and the Split Rock Lighthouse became a reality. During the first 15 years of operation, the lighthouse was only accessible by water. Once the Lake Superior International Highway was completed it opened the area to tourists. What began as 5000 visitors in the early 1930s turned into 100,000 by the end of the decade.

Fierce Gales

These days, the lighthouse is no longer in use. The invention of GPS and other monitoring devices has made it obsolete. That doesn’t stop thousands of visitors a year from ascending the stairs to witness the majestic beauty of Lake Superior. The sight reminded us of our lighthouse visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin. As you look out over the waters, it is easy to imagine the peril that sailors face when they embark on a journey. The day of our visit included wind gusts of nearly 20 miles per hour. That was enough to create some impressive waves in the choppy water. Certainly, the fierce gales of November would blow in waves substantially larger.

Facing the Gales

As you can see from our photos, the weather around Split Rock Lighthouse can be ever-changing. Our late summer visit was met with blustery winds that blew in from across the lake. It certainly left one feeling a bit chilled, especially those of us from southern locations. Even the chilly winds were not enough to prohibit our visit. Having an opportunity to view this historic attraction was not to be missed. Crystal and I spent a few extra minutes wandering a trail that leads off along the shoreline. It offers amazing views of the waves crashing into the rocky outcroppings. This process has repeated itself for hundreds of years and we are thankful to have a chance to witness it firsthand. Have you ever visited the North Shores?

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Visitors Center

After spending the night in Duluth, we made our way northeast along a shoreline drive. This portion would usually take about 45 minutes, but we were experiencing it for the first time, so more stops were involved. Gooseberry Falls sits along the shores of Lake Gitchi Gummi, a name originally given to Lake Superior, by the Ojibwa people. This spot is often referred to as the “Gateway to the North Shores”, as it is the first of a series of state parks that border the shoreline. We arrived at the visitors center, which gives an overview of the area. It also includes a small gift shop, where we would find some unique souvenirs to memorialize our visit.

Interesting Geology

Gooseberry Falls is comprised of a trio of drops that include; Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls. During our visit, we only managed to see the lower two. These were down in water volume due to drought conditions. While some may be disappointed by the lack of water flow, it also brings opportunity. Evidently, long ago the earth’s crust split along this region, which includes a rift under Lake Superior. Large amounts of lava flowed into the open spaces and cooled to form dark-colored basalt. This can be seen in the falls when the water levels are low.

Ice Age Leftovers

Another interesting geological feature is the various caves that dot the area. Many of these were formed during the last ice age and were revealed as the glaciers receded. We spotted a few of these as we explored the surrounding forest. Being so far north, the foliage was primarily made up of aspen, birch, and evergreen trees. A myriad of wildlife creatures abound in this arctic-alpine region, but for the most part, we spotted only the ever-present ravens. The sounds of gulls were often heard, but I believe we would have had to hike closer to the lake’s edge to see them. We were okay with passing on this since we had seen so many gulls during our Lake Michigan visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Hiker’s Paradise

While I refer to what we did as hiking, the reality is much less strenuous. Gooseberry Falls has paved paths that lead to viewing areas of the falls. While these do have considerable elevation changes, it was not too much for our party to handle. Crystal’s mom did decide to wait at a viewing area, while the two of us went hiking out onto the top of Middle Falls. It seems like a popular thing to do, so we joined the constant crowd of visitors. This activity is fairly easy for able-bodied guests, but be aware that you will have to navigate fissures and wet rocks. In the end, it offered us a different perspective of the falls.

Gateway to the North Shores

Our visit to Gooseberry Falls State Park allowed us a peek into the natural world found at the gateway to the North Shores. Since we weren’t on a scheduled tour, we could enjoy the area at our own pace. There are benches along the paths that offer a restful break from the walk. They have also included seating spots at the viewpoints for the falls and many visitors were happy to find them. With ample free parking, as well as no admission charges, this is truly a free attraction. Be sure to drop by the gift shop to pick out the perfect memory from your visit. The dollars spent there help keep the park running.

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