Telling the story of Minong

Hat Point ferry exhibits to inform, inspire Isle Royale visitors

Hat Point marina is a bustling place in the summer, as visitors from around the United States and beyond catch the Voyageur II and Sea Hunter III ferries to Isle Royale National Park, known as Minong by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Anishinaabe).

Soon, the marina’s new ferry building, which is owned and operated by the Grand Portage Band, will also be a place to learn about the deep cultural connection between the Anishinaabe people and this unique wilderness island.

New marina building creates interpretive opportunity

Each year more than 25,0000 people visit Minong, with one third of them traveling by ferry from Hat Point marina. Over the past year, the Grand Portage Band completed a beautiful new building with concessions, restrooms, the Tribal office, and the ferry vessel company office.

Summer 2025 visitors are already enjoying the new ferry building. Natural light from large windows fills the space, offering incredible views of the sparkling Grand Portage Bay, swooping gulls, bobbing mergansers, and the hazy silhouette of Minong beyond.

By the 2026 season there will be a series of interpretive panels with photographs, illustrations, maps, and explanatory text telling the story of this special place. With seed funding from the National Park Foundation Inclusive Storytelling Grant Program, a multistakeholder exhibit team has been formed with the 106 Group hired to develop the exhibit plan.

Planning process underway

The 106 Group’s draft plan offers a window into the exhibits and activities that will ultimately be showcased in the ferry building. The group has identified key audiences, including Band members, tourists, and families with children.

Planners recognize that interpretation must serve dual purposes: operating as both a warm introduction to the stories for visitors in the summer months, as well as weaving in additional context and engaging content for Grand Portage Band members who will be utilizing the space throughout the rest of the year for family gatherings and community events. 

Based on planning to date, exhibits will include three major components: wall-mounted interpretive panels installed along the perimeter of the building’s waiting area; one moveable “centerpiece” element; and a small set of exterior signs that will likely focus on basic travel tips and stewardship information.

A final plan is slated for completion in September 2025, and will include estimated fabrication and installation costs.

Stay tuned for more details on this important project and how you can help realize the vision for making the new Hat Point ferry building a place that educates and inspires visitors!

Learn more about the origins of this project in our earlier story, "Interpretation Planned at the New Hat Point Marina".

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About The NPLSF

The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation (NPLSF) exists to provide financial support for projects and programs that preserve the natural resources and cultural heritage of the five Lake Superior national parks: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand Portage National Monument, Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Funded through grants and private donations, NPLSF projects and programs ensure that these great parks and historic sites are maintained for the enjoyment of all current and future visitors.

To learn how you can support our work visit nplsf.org/donate.