The Gunflint Trail has been designated a National Scenic Byway, according to an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The National Scenic Byways Program is an often under-recognized partner in historic preservation, but the program—and its national resource office located in, of all places, Duluth—presents a number of educational, promotional, and financial tools.
I didn’t see much historical value in roadways until a year or so into graduate school, when I learned about the Historic Columbia River Highway, its multi-faceted restoration project (everything from buildings to bollards), and some of the problematic but intriguing issues involved in restoring and interpreting an early 20th-century roadway for modern use. Read more here.
Now is the perfect time to take a scenic autumn drive along one of Minnesota’s designated scenic byways. Just be sure to notice the historic resources along with the colorful leaves—and keep your eyes on the road!
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