Minnesota, a state renowned for its breathtaking scenery and rich history, also has ghost towns that hold remnants of the past. Once-thriving villages now lie motionless in these abandoned settlements, providing a window into a bygone period. These five abandoned settlements encapsulate Minnesota’s rich history:
Leaf River
In Martin County, Minnesota, Leaf River was an unorganized town prior to becoming a legitimate town. Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, starring Imogen, served as the inspiration for the town’s name. The community was platted and had a post office in 1900. It was in use up to 1913.
The history of this little town dates back nearly two centuries. These days, about fifty people live there. Leaf River also contains a restaurant, a golf course, and a residential neighborhood. The historic town hall, the cemetery, and a few neighboring abandoned buildings are still open for shooting by urban explorers.
Taconite Harbor
The Erie Mining Company began operations in the region in the 1950s, constructing houses for its employees. The settlement expanded over time to become Taconite Harbor town.
Residents of Taconite Harbor were informed in the late 1980s that the municipality was no longer able to support them and that they could sell their properties for $1. However, the proposal was eventually abandoned, and the houses that remained were loaded onto trucks and relocated.
The town is now uninhabited and abandoned, but some of its vestiges may still be seen, such as the old basketball court, overgrown streets, and rusting street lights. Taconite Harbor is my very favorite ghost town in Minnesota.
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Pelan
Named after a prosperous Englishman, Pelan was the first settlement established in 1880. The town’s first postmaster vanished in 1889 while carrying his mail sack. The town’s second postmaster, Frederic W. Clay, disappeared in 1903 along with his mail sack. Pelan just vanished by 1909, to put it mildly.
Now, a few houses and a nesting Western Wood-Pewee may be found at Pelan Park, which stands in its stead. Pelan isn’t the most fascinating ghost town in Minnesota, but it’s still worth spending a weekend exploring because of the park and a few remains.
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Beaver
Beavers are the reason for the town’s name; they encouraged settlers to dam a portion of the creek. Although the town was laid out in 1856, it had become a swamp by the 1950s due to farming on the hillside erosion.
The village saw the construction of several buildings, among them a grain mill. In addition, there was a cheese factory, tavern, school, Methodist church, and hardware shop there.
The majority of the site is now a natural preserve, with the few remaining structures left abandoned and being reclaimed by the elements. Beaver is one of the most isolated ghost towns in Minnesota.
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Radium
In 1905, radium was discovered along the Soo Line Railroad. The town was named after the notorious Radium element, which came as no surprise. We can’t confirm whether radium was handled here because there isn’t a lot of information about the place online. The community had disintegrated by 1984, and the post office had been shut down formally.
These days, the town and the railroad line are both dotted with abandoned buildings. Nearby, there’s a small community with a working grain silo right off the railroad tracks.
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To Conclude
Ghost towns in Minnesota provide insight into the rich history of the state, ranging from the vibrant Taconite Harbor mining district to the enigmatic Pelan disappearance. Some communities, like Leaf River, are still somewhat inhabited, but others have been abandoned because of weather-related or economic changes.
These ruins provide as a constant reminder of how communities change over time and the stories they store within their crumbling buildings. Minnesota’s ghost towns provide a fascinating look into the obscure corners of the state’s past, whether they are visited for their historical value or for their creepy atmosphere.
