Along the Shore

Duluth’s historic Leif Erikson Viking ship now has a new home with the Knife River Heritage and Cultural Center in the community of Knife River. | PAUL VON GOERTZ

Viking replica ship has a new home

By Elle Andra-Warner

KNIFE RIVER—The speculation is over. Duluth’s historic Leif Erikson ship—the Viking replica that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1926 and arrived in Duluth in 1927—now has a new home with the Knife River Heritage and Cultural Center (KRHCC) in the community of Knife River, located on the North Shore between Duluth and Two Harbors.

Both in years and miles, it’s been a long journey for the Leif Erikson. It all began in Korgen, Norway in 1925 when Norwegian Captain Gerald Folgero (1886-1948) hired a boat-builder to make a replica of the vessel that Norse explorer Leif Erikson (c. 970-c. 1019-1025) had sailed to North America over a thousand years ago. Built of Norway pine and about half the size of the original, Folgero’s 42-foot ship was rigged with red and white striped sails, plus one set of triangular sails. She had no motor and was steered by a rudder with an attached log har (tiller). Carved on its side was a dragon’s head and tail and traditional wooden shields. Captain Folgero’s long-time goal had been to sail Erikson’s sea route to America in a Viking replica ship.

On May 23, 1926, with a crew of three and one dog, Captain Folgero sailed out from Bergen, Norway. They stopped at Faroe Islands, survived storms on the way to Iceland, fought hurricane-winds across the ocean, and reached Nova Scotia in mid-August before heading for Boston Harbor. After staying the winter in New York City, the Leif Erikson reached Duluth on June 23, 1927, having travelled roughly 10,000 miles.

Created as a Viking replica ship, the Leif Erikson sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1926 and arrived in Duluth in 1927. | SUBMITTED

The vessel was purchased by two Duluth businessmen and donated to city of Duluth to be maintained as a permanent display. For many years it was a popular tourist attraction at the city’s Leif Erikson Park. But the ship fell into disrepair until 1985 when a volunteer-group, “Save Our Ship” (SOS), was created to repair and restore the Leif Erikson, after which she was put in storage. The plan was to return her to the park after a specially-designed shelter was built. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way.

In June 2021, ownership of the ship was transferred to SOS by the Duluth City Council and the search for a permanent location began while the ship remained in storage. Then, in November 2021, she was transported to KNHCC for their annual Julebyen Scandinavian Christmas Festival. And on June 22 of this year, SOS and KNHCC agreed to permanently relocate the 96-year-old Viking replica to KNHCC where she would be on exhibit in a new $150,000 timber-frame building alongside the local Crusader II Norwegian commercial fishing tug (which was christened in 1939 by Norway’s Prince Olav). Construction is slated for completion next summer.

Knife River Heritage and Cultural Center was established in 2018 as a grassroots non-profit to “engage the public in preserving, presenting and valuing the history” of the area. Looks like a good home for the Leif Erikson.

Change is coming to Cook County

By Eric Weicht

GRAND MARAIS—There are a couple of big changes taking place at two of Grand Marais’ better-known businesses.

Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in downtown Grand Marais is for sale, and the historic Harbor Light is being reopened by the owners of the Gunflint Tavern and their son, Cassidy Gecas, as a new event space and music venue called Up Yonder.

“Why am I selling the business?” says Jack Stone, owner of Stone Harbor. “Because I’m 74 years old.”

“I love what I do,” continues Stone, “but I know that I can’t continue doing this forever. I’ve been up here almost 20 years, and it’s time I take a step back and spend more time with my family: my kids and grandkids.”

Stone first opened Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply back in 2008 and has been running the business, in addition to his work in the oil marketing business, ever since.

“There was a shop here before Stone Harbor,” says Stone. “I think it was called Cascade Kayaks. It was some combination of kayak shop, coffee shop and cyber café.”

“When we took over, though, we had to completely remodel the building,” continues Stone, “and, for all practical purposes, make the business what it is today.”

Jack Stone first opened Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply back in 2008 and has been running the business ever since. | SUBMITTED

Stone is a lifelong outdoorsman and has been making trips north to paddle the Boundary Waters since the 60s. Moving to the North Shore was something that he always wanted to do, so when the opportunity to open an outfitter right in the heart of Grand Marais presented itself, he seized the moment and made it happen.

“I used to work for Eddie Bauer back in the 1970s,” says Stone, “back when it was one of the premier outdoor retailers in the country.”

“I liked what we did [at Eddie Bauer],” continues Stone, “I liked our concept. Coming up here all those years I always thought that Grand Marais could use a high-quality outdoor shop like that, which is what sparked the idea for Stone Harbor in the first place.”

Twelve years later, Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply is going strong as one of the premier outfitters on the North Shore. They offer high-end outdoor gear in everything from sea kayaking the Big Lake to canoe-camping the BWCAW, and they offer year-round wilderness tours that are suitable for all skill-levels.

“Most outfitters don’t deal with Lake Superior,” says Stone, “but we do. We do everything that we can to make exploring Lake Superior accessible to anyone who’s interested.”

“It’s important to me,” continues Stone, “that [Stone Harbor] be more than just a place for people to buy gear. Stone Harbor is a place for people to have experiences.”

For further information on everything that Stone Harbor has going on this winter, visit their website at: stoneharborws.com.

Farther up the hill from Stone Harbor, Cassidy Gecas—general manager at the Gunflint Tavern and the new owner of Up Yonder (at Harbor Light)—has been hard at work with his crew turning the place into a new event space and top-notch music venue.

The plan for Up Yonder, according to Gecas, is to turn it into a proper event center, something that he thinks is missing in Grand Marais. There will be a bar with limited food options at first that will likely expand to include “sandwiches, wraps, and that sort of stuff” once things get going, but the main focus of the business will be live music and big events.

Cassidy and his girlfriend Brit stand in front of their new business. | SUBMITTED

“So far,” says Gecas, “we’ve built a 16 by 16-foot stage out in the yard with a smaller gazebo on top. There’s also a new big firepit, a number of new picnic tables, and a bunch of yard games ready to go. We used the campground to help out with staff housing this summer, but next summer we plan on running it like a proper campground so people can pitch a tent and stay where the music is.”

“On the inside,” continues Gecas, “we re-did the sound system and stage, put in place new vault ceilings, knocked out some walls to better utilize the space, installed new hardwood floors, new paint, lights, and windows too. We’re going to put in a nice pool table and some dart boards where the ‘middle’ room used to be, but we’re leaving the lower area to use as a closed-off space for private events.”

Even though the plan is, as of right now, to only be open weekends (Friday through Sunday) through the winter once construction is complete, Gecas is hopeful that they will be able to expand their hours once things pick up again in the summer.

“In the summer,” says Gecas, “It’s really going to depend on staff—who we’re able to hire and what we’ll be able to run.”

“Hopefully we’ll get a decent crew and be able to stay open seven days a week in the summer,” continues Gecas, “but either way, it’s going to be a really good time.”

To stay current with all that’s happening with Up Yonder, follow them on Instagram @up.yonder.at.harborlight or find them on Facebook: Up Yonder.