Minnesota Discovery Center was formerly known as Ironworld and is located at SW Highway 169 in Chisholm, Minnesota. It is approximately three hours north of the Twin Cities and one and a half hour north of Duluth. The center is open throughout the year from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday staying open later on Thursday when admission is free from 5pm to 9pm.
The center initially opened in 1977 as the Iron Range Interpretive Center with the Hall of Geology added two years later. It has since become the state's largest museum complex outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area and also features a Research Center and Park. The 600 acre site has exhibits and events to highlight the history of Northeast Minnesota, including how European immigrants came over at the turn of the 20th century to work in the iron ore industry.
The museum is a 33,000 square foot facility with many artifacts and it examines mining methods, explores regional geology, and hosts traveling exhibits about the European immigrants. The story of the immigrants explains more about the development of Iron Range, a region that became the largest producer of iron ore in the United States. There is also a separate section in the museum about the life and work of Minnesota's longest serving governor, Rudy Perpich, who was a native of Iron Range.
The Research Center collects and preserves records about the history of the Iron Range with items such as written materials, videos, photos and microfilmed documents. The library at the center contains numerous published resources as well as unpublished materials, including government records, personal records, and the records of numerous businesses and social organizations. The Library and Reading Room are open during normal operating times of the Discovery Center.
Heritage Park is a pleasant part of the site to wander around as it has groomed walking trails, flowerbeds and flags of all nations. Here the Discovery Center holds various events and festivals, and there are other things to see by boarding the railroad trolley for a two and a half mile ride to the site of a former mining community called Glen Locations. There are historic buildings here and along the Glen walking trails visitors can look at mining equipment, native flora and fauna and the Glen-Godfrey Mine as well as having a round of miniature golf.
Events and shows are held at the Amphitheater and Pavilion, where well known entertainers come to perform, whilst private receptions and gatherings can also be held here. There is covered seating for 800 people at the Amphitheater with room for an additional 1,200 on the grass, while the Pavilion has a stage, glass walls and dressing rooms and is suitable for more intimate performances as well as meetings, conferences and receptions. Visitors looking to stay overnight or longer near the Discovery Center will find Chisholm Inn & Suites located just over one kilometer away in Iron Drive.
