Discover Hibbing: Mining History, Nature and Culture

Hibbing is a destination for anyone interested in mining history, nature and culture. The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine and the relocation of buildings in 1918 offer a glimpse into the city’s history. Carey Lake is known for its parkland and outdoor activities; museums and other cultural sites round out the picture. These themes can help you choose the focus of your stay and then look for hotels in Hibbing.

Mining History and Urban Development

The Hull Rust Mahoning Mine is an open-pit mine in Hibbing that developed from more than 40 individual pits. Its history is also connected to a change in the northern part of the city: when the mine expanded in 1918, all the buildings in northern Hibbing were moved two miles south.

The Hibbing Historical Museum adds a broader perspective on the city. It presents Hibbing’s mining history and the relocation to accommodate the mining industry. A scale model shows what Hibbing looked like when it was incorporated in 1893. The dates mark different points of reference: the model depicts the city in 1893, while the mine expansion that led to the buildings being moved took place in 1918.

Carey Lake: Park, Lake and Activities

The Carey Lake Recreation Area is Hibbing’s largest park, covering 1,139 acres. It includes a 139-acre lake and largely undisturbed areas of woodland and wetlands. This brings together a substantial body of water and forest and wetland landscapes in one park.

Activities at Carey Lake Park include biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, swimming, boating, fishing and birdwatching. The options range from land-based activities to things to do on the water and birdwatching. If you’re planning your trip around a particular interest, you can take these different options into account.

A 4.25-mile paved trail connects Minnesota North College with Carey Lake Park. Its length and the two named endpoints give you a concrete reference point if you’d like to include the trail in your plans for activities in the park.

Culture, Bob Dylan and the Planetarium

The Bob Dylan Collection in Hibbing is a self-guided exhibit featuring memorabilia about Bob Dylan, who is from Hibbing. The Dylan Project offers a different focus: the public artwork on the west side of Hibbing High School on Bob Dylan Drive celebrates Dylan’s career as a singer-songwriter and Nobel laureate. If you’d like to include the artwork in your visit, check current access arrangements in advance.

Tours of Hibbing High School can be arranged by calling tour guide Bob Kearney at 218-966-0336. A tour is a separate way to plan a visit to the school and must be arranged by phone. The self-guided Bob Dylan Collection and the available tours therefore differ not only in subject but also in how you visit.

The Paulucci Space Theatre originally opened as a modern planetarium in 1980 and was renovated in 2020. Today, it offers full-dome 4K digital projection with dozens of new shows. If you’re planning a visit, it’s a good idea to check the current show schedule so you can work a screening into your travel plans.

More Things to Do During Your Stay

The Hibbing Municipal Golf Course is a public, 9-hole, par-34 golf course in central Hibbing, Minnesota. Golf is another clearly defined option alongside park activities, museum visits and the planetarium. The range of offerings gives you several ways to shape your trip.

In the wider region, the Tourist Center & Red Ore Gift Shop serves the Hibbing area and surrounding communities, offering local foods such as pasties, sarmas and potica for purchase. This culinary tip relates to the broader area and adds a regional specialty to the specific places and activities in Hibbing.

To plan your trip, you can first decide whether mining history, outdoor activities, Bob Dylan, the planetarium or golf will be your main focus. The museum exhibit and the 1918 relocation tell different parts of the city’s history; at Carey Lake, the landscape and range of activities take center stage. With this focus in mind, you can search for a hotel in Hibbing that suits your planned stay.

Discover more destinations: Virginia, Biwabik, Orr, Duluth, Brookston, Babbitt, University City, Hermantown

For the broader travel overview: St. Louis.