Photo: A sneak peek at the newly installed exhibits, Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association Facebook page

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 24, 2026

Community members visiting Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center this summer will encounter newly installed, museum-quality, interactive, educational exhibits. The new, professionally designed displays cover the nature center's main indoor gallery and parts of its newly constructed outdoor education area, with an official public celebration scheduled for July 11 at 1:00 p.m.

According to Sugarloaf's North Shore Stewardship Association Executive Director, Molly Thompson, the new exhibits replace older displays, some of which date back to 1997. The updates focus on the natural environment and history of the area, including how the North Shore was formed, specific facts about Lake Superior, and the native plants and animals that live there. The displays also show how the Sugarloaf site transitioned from its past use as an industrial log landing to the present day. In addition to the interpretive and interactive content, the updates include a new kids' activity area and a new gift shop.

To develop the content, text, and visual design, Sugarloaf’s board and staff collaborated with Split Rock Studios, an exhibit design firm based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Thompson shared that the newly designed and installed exhibits follow the successful 2022 capital campaign that funded a building expansion, specifically, a new outdoor educational area. Construction began in 2024 and concluded last year. The installation of the new exhibits themselves was funded by a donation from Kathy Cargill. "We have always dreamed of installing museum-quality exhibits. Now that dream is coming true," Thompson said. 

The July 11 event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature live music, arts-and-crafts stations and activities, and, of course, a celebration of the new exhibits. 

To learn more, visit: https://sugarloafnorthshore.org/

 The Nature Center had to be cleared of the former displays and exhibits. Photo from the Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association Facebook page

 Installation of the new exhibits began earlier this month. Photo from the Sugarloaf: The North Shore Stewardship Association Facebook page