Photo: University of Minnesota Press

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 3, 2025

Minnesota author Arnold R. Alanen offers readers a detailed examination of the human impact on the North Shore's environment throughout history in his new book, The Scenic Route: Building Minnesota's North Shore (University of Minnesota Press, May 2025). Described as a field guide to the cultural landscape that comprises the popular North Shore Scenic Byway (also known as Highway 61), the 490-page book offers a deep look through pictures, stories, and time. 

Alanen, described as a "cultural landscape historian," focuses on how human activities have shaped the region's physical area. Alanen told Boreal Community Media that a "cultural landscape historian" studies the human impact on a landscape, as opposed to the physical landscape as a standalone. "We don't go deeply into the physical landscape; it's the human impact that we feature," he said. 

Alanen's connection to the area dates back to his youth, with his first full road trip along the North Shore taking place at the age of 13. Over time, he has noticed significant changes along the way, maybe most notable the "steady upgrading of properties." He shared, "Much has changed on the North Shore over the past decades, but the steady upgrading of so many private properties is a most noticeable phenomenon, as these sites become more valuable. Some might say it's a form of gentrification that prices out moderate-income people who work on the North Shore but have to live outside the district."

Another notable change includes the elimination of the original inland road that bypassed Silver Creek Cliff. Alanen said, "The blasting and rock cuts that occurred during the mid 1920s made the lake visible to motorists; however, since the tunnel opening, motorists have no idea of how exciting, and occasionally challenging, the drive was." Additionally, he share a third notable change: "the original Mineral Center-Sextus City location at the border, is totally gone. The story of its rise and demise, however, remains fascinating."

The book, which Alanen has been working on for over ten years, faced the challenge of documenting a constantly changing landscape. "Trying to keep up with the constant changes that are occurring on the North Shore was one of the most problematic issues that I dealt with when writing about the district," he said. Eventually, he made the decision to make the book's content current as of late 2024 and early 2025, noting in the book's introduction that "What exists today may not be evident tomorrow."

COVID also influenced the book's timeline, causing a delay of at least two years. Alanen shares that part of the delay was due to "supply chain issues," adding "there was a shortage of paper during the height of COVID." However, he believes the delay allowed the book to be more current than it would be if it came out before or during the pandemic. He said, "The book incorporates information that would have been absent had it been released prior to the pandemic. Every book that deals with contemporary sites and issues is dated on the day of publication, of course, but had it appeared before Covid, the differences would have been immense."

When asked about places along the North Shore that "speak" to him, Alanen said Grand Portage, stating it "speaks to me most clearly about the long sweep of time and events that underlie the North Shore." Additionally, he said, "Grand Portage also reminds me that, other than very limited archaeological evidence, there is practically no information about the earliest Indigenous people who resided in the district: what thoughts and words did these people use to describe their local environments, for example?"

He also resonates with the projects completed by organizations such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA), which were active in the area during the 1930s. Alanen describes these sites and projects as examples of things "humans can accomplish" in times of economic and social uncertainty, when we're "pursuing the common good."

For those interested in learning more, Alanen will present an author talk about The Scenic Route tomorrow, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the Grand Marais Public Library. The event is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will include a reading and discussion. Drury Lane Books will be on site for book sales, and there will be time for questions and book signings. The event is free and open to the public.

 Image: University of Minnesota Press