We toured a woolen goods factory today along with going to Lake Itasca State Park home of the Mississippi River headwaters.
Paul Bunyan is every where around here.
This woolen mill, although it no longer weaves its own material, has been operated by the same family since 1920. A lot of the machines used today were purchased in the 20's and are still made by the same companies today The owner and operator who is the 4th generation to run this business shared some interesting facts about Bemidji. The two most famous residents of Bemidji, not including Paul Bunyan or Babe the blue ox, are Jane Russell and Mary Welsh Hemingway, the 4th and final wife of Ernest Hemingway. The sculpture of Paul Bunyan and Babe, The Blue Ox are the second most photographed roadside attraction in the nation, number 1 is Mount Rushmore. The standard red plaid that is produced into shirts, coats, hats, gloves and other garments is known as buffalo plaid. The name was given to it by the company owner who first wove it, buffalo was his nickname. In Scotland it is referred to as the "Rob Roy Tartan."
This buffalo plaid jacket was purchased in the 50's from the Bemidji Woolen Mill, worn by four boys in the family and when the last one outgrew it, the garment was donated back to the mill and it is displayed, along with others.
This "lettermens sweater" was specifically made for Billy Crystal as he voiced Mike Wazowski, the little round green monster with one big eye in Monster University. Billy wore this sweater while he was doing the voice over.
There were plenty of nice woolen goods for sale, however, we are headed south and did not want to tempt the weather to turn cold so we passed on buying something warm and woolen.
The Headwaters of the Mississippi. This is what we came to see, the point where the Mississippi flows north out of Lake Itasca to Lake Bemidji where it turns east then south to the gulf coast. On its way to empty into the Gulf of Mexico, the river pulls water from 31 states or about 41% of the continental United States. Kentucky has the smallest footprint on the river with only two towns built on the river. As it flows from Lake Itasca it covers about 30% of its total length and 600 ft of its elevation as it flows out of Minnesota.
This is the start of the Mississippi River. It is only a few inches deep due to the widith. A few hundred feet further down it is only 4 or 5 feet wide but is about knee deep.
This is the first footbridge over the Mississippi. The water is so clear and clean.
This is Lake Itasca, the grasses in the background is wild rice that is harvested. Harvesting wild rice is done by "knocking" the rice into your canoe, as you are poled along by another person, with two "ricing" or "knocking" sticks as the grass can grow up to 8 feet tall. The rice kernels do not all mature at the same time so you can harvest the same grasses two or three times in the same area as long as the grass is not broken, which is illegal to do. Anybody can get a permit to harvest wild rice.
Such humble beginnings for a river that is intertwined with the founding of our Country.
Taken through the bus window, we are crossing the first vehicle bridge over the Mississippi. This is its average width until nearer Bemidji.
Tomorrow is a travel day only, no special stops or sights and we work our way down to the Twin Cities on Monday where we will stay for a few days. Have a great weekend!
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