What children start, fairies finish, adding their own fairy magic to every imaginative touch from a child. This “kids start-fairies finish” is one of many mottos of Story Scouts Children’s Publishing Club of Minnesota Children’s Press, and they are taking it to heart. 

They have started designing a garden play area at Letteracy Deck’s Fairy Library located on the beach behind the Cook County History Museum (hours are 10-4 p.m.Wednesdays-Sundays), for the summer season opening June 19. By July, this Letteracy Deck site will have a wishing well garden and sandbox to expand the fairy library and village overlooking Lake Superior’s East Bay.

Screen-free, no algorithms

This is the fourth year of Letteracy Deck’s mission to revive the lost art of letter writing and drawing among anyone capable of holding a pencil, and its second year offering two downtown locations: the History Museum’s East Bay of Lake Superior location, and the harbor location at Lake Superior Trading Post. 

Both are free, screen-free, and algorithm-free and open June 19. At least one Letteracy Deck site will be open every day through the MEA school break, which ends on Sunday, Oct. 18. 

Support from Lions, Chamber of Commerce, IRRRB

Both Letteracy Deck sites offer an enticing array of free writing supplies, advice on letter lore, mini-exhibits on letter history, post-card coaching and the central feature of every North Shore experience, serene natural beauty. 

The most popular bonus feature—free stamps—receives funding help from the Grand Marais Lions Club. Letteracy Deck mailed about 9,000 cards and letters in 2025. And since, opening in 2023, Letteracy Deck has mailed 17,000 letters and cards, much of it thanks to Lions! For summer 2026, Cook County Chamber of Commerce is helping increase the play value of the Fairy Library through its “Great Places Project Grant.” It is providing funding to help Story Scouts build-out their Fairy Garden Village behind the History Museum.

Letteracy Deck’s major 2026 funding comes from the Iron Range Rehabilitation and Resource Board, IRRRB.  The IRRRB commissioners selected the “Minnesota, Land  of Letters” grant submitted by Minnesota Children’s Press, creator of Letteracy Deck, to help prototype an innovative next-generation form of tourism based on creativity and applied literacy and the positive, productive community-building energy this generates.

Stop by and experience the joy of letter writing; recover the lost art of correspondence; practice – or show off!–cursive handwriting; and revel in the views! Lots of people visit both sites in the same day—join them!

Most of all, renew your serenity and your humanity by taking a break from screens and scrolling. All are welcome!