Rainy Lake City
When gold was discovered on Little American Island, the miners built a small town to house their families.
Plan Around Rainy Lake City
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Rainy Lake City Details
When gold was discovered on Little American Island, the miners built a small town to house their families. Practically overnight, a miniature community sprang up on an island adjacent to the Little American Mine. The miners built a stamp mill here, where gold flakes were separated from quartz. The town had many homes, as well as a saloon and other businesses. The gold rush was short-lived, however, and by 1901 the town was completely deserted. During Prohibition, the Rainy Lake City Saloon was used as a waypoint for the illegal distribution of alcohol from Canada to the United States. Today, the roads and many buildings still stand, though they have begun to blend in with the rest of the landscape. Wildlife are now the sole inhabitants, though humans can easily access the island by paddling from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Rainy Lake City
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Rainy Lake City
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0.5 mi away
Black Bay Skiing and Hiking Trail
This moderate 1.2-mile trail is open to skiers and hikers.
0.7 mi away
Little American Island Trail
In the 1890s, Little American Island was the site of the area's first gold mine.
1.0 mi away
Voyageurs National Park
"Voyageurs" was the name given to the hardy fur trappers and traders who traveled the lakes of Minnesota's North Woods in long, birch-bark canoes in order to sell beaver pelts in northwestern Canada and Montreal.
1.0 mi away
Rainy Lake Visitor Center
Rainy Lake Visitor Center is at the northern entrance of the park.
1.0 mi away
Rainy Lake Recreation Trail
This trail is entirely accessible.
