Creating the BWCA: More than just the Wilderness Act(s)

This episode, originally presented in May 2024, will focus on a history of the Boundary Waters, beginning well before the 60-year-old Wilderness Act. From the establishment of the Superior National Forest to the post-WWI popularity of resorting in the Northwoods and the growth of resort businesses in the Ely Area to banning of dams in the Superior Roadless Area - all before 1964.

History Happy Hour delves into the rich history of the Ely, Minnesota Area with pint-sized stories that are informative and entertaining in less than a half an hour.
Join host, Jess Edberg, executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum as she scratches the surface of a local history topic, inspiring listeners to take a deeper dive on their own.

This program is also offered as a free in-person 30-minute or less presentation October through May, typically on the third Wednesday of the month at 5pm at the Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant in Ely, Minnesota.

History Happy Hour is supported in-kind by the Boathouse Brewpub, Ely’s Heritage Preservation Commission, the Dorothy Molter Museum, Boundary Waters Connect and the Ely Folk School.

This podcast is made possible in part by a grant from Ely Minnesota’s Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.

Theme song "Roll Jordan Roll" provided by The Joy Drops 

Production and mixing by Brett Ross, Ely Minnesota

Cover art by Jess Edberg; Photo credit to Dorothy Molter Museum