The expansion of the Hull Rust Mahoning Mine directly changed Hibbing: in 1918, all buildings in the northern part of the city were moved two miles south. This mining history, along with Bob Dylan connections and the natural offerings at Carey Lake, is a highlight to consider when planning your trip.
Mining and City History
The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine is an open-pit mine in Hibbing that developed from more than 40 individual mining pits. The Hibbing Historical Museum covers the city’s mining history and its relocation to accommodate the mining industry. A scale model also shows what Hibbing looked like when it was incorporated in 1893.
The model and the relocation complement each other as historical reference points: one shows Hibbing in 1893, while the other depicts a later change to the cityscape under the influence of the mine. Together, they offer a view ranging from a depiction of the city at a particular point in time to a pivotal chapter in its mining history.
Bob Dylan and Other Cultural Attractions
The Bob Dylan Collection in Hibbing is designed for self-guided visits and displays memorabilia about Bob Dylan, who is from Hibbing. The Dylan Project offers a different perspective: the public artwork is located on the west side of Hibbing High School on Bob Dylan Drive and celebrates Dylan’s career as a singer-songwriter and Nobel laureate. The collection and artwork thus highlight different aspects of the connection between Dylan and Hibbing.
You can arrange tours of Hibbing High School by calling tour guide Bob Kearney at 218-966-0336. This differs from the self-guided visit to the collection: a tour must be arranged for the school, while the collection is described as self-guided.
The Paulucci Space Theatre offers another cultural highlight. It originally opened in 1980 as a modern planetarium, was renovated in 2020, and today offers full-dome 4K digital projection with dozens of new shows. Its development connects its original function as a planetarium with today’s projection technology and current show lineup.
Nature and Activities at Carey Lake
At 1,139 acres, the Carey Lake Recreation Area is Hibbing’s largest park. It includes a 139-acre lake in largely unspoiled areas of woodland and wetlands. Carey Lake Park offers opportunities for biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, swimming, boating, fishing, and birdwatching. The activities range from outdoor recreation on land to activities at or on the water.
One specific connection is the 4.25-mile paved trail between Minnesota North College and Carey Lake Park. It is a clearly defined route option, while the park itself offers a variety of activities. Another local option is the Hibbing Municipal Golf Course: the public course is in the center of Hibbing, Minnesota, and has nine holes and a par of 34.
Regional Foods
There is also a connection to regional cuisine in the wider Hibbing area: the Tourist Center & Red Ore Gift Shop in the Hibbing area sells local foods such as pasties, sarma, and potica. This adds a regional food option to your trip planning without conflating it with the offerings in town.
Discover more destinations: Bassett, Virginia, Duluth, Brookston, Babbitt, Eveleth, University City, Biwabik
For the broader travel overview: St. Louis.
