The Longest Tunnel In Minnesota Is Now A Spooky Historical Landmark
Minnesota has its share of underground wonders. Portions of the state have caves, underground mines, and quite a few tunnels. I recently was curious as to what the longest tunnel in Minnesota is, and I found some interesting history that ties back to my childhood.
The longest tunnel in Minnesota is no longer in use, but it still exists and can be found on Minnesota's North Shore. It was used to transport iron ore from Hoyt Lakes to its ore dock at Taconite Harbor on Lake Superior.
The tunnel was blasted by LTV Steel in 1957. For decades, taconite was transported by rail, and then by ore boat to steel mills across the Great Lakes.
I remember when LTV Steel went bankrupt and closed its mine in Hoyt Lakes. I grew up on the Iron Range and had many friends's parent lost their jobs. Shortly after, the tunnel was purchased by Cleveland Cliffs, and it only operated for a few years after.
People who visit the tunnel describe it as an optical illusion. It's 1800 feet long, which is more than 5 football fields in length. It takes a long time to walk it, and although you can see light at the end of the tunnel, it is "quite spooky." A chilling breeze can be felt in the dark, damp interior.
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You can find the tunnel off of Cramer Rd and Erie Mining Road, north of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park. It has been closed off periodically over the years, but it has been reopened from time to time, according to videos I've found on YouTube.
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Gallery Credit: Anuradha Varanasi
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