The International Wolf Center in Ely, MN has opened a new exhibit dedicated to wilderness writer and author Sigurd F. Olson. The exhibit is focused on Olson’s legacy as a writer, wilderness advocate and wolf researcher.
Before Olson was well-known as a conservationist and author, he did groundbreaking research on wolves. In a statement, Wolf Center board chair Nancy Jo Tubbs said, “Olson first agreed with the public’s disapproval of wolves and support of their extermination until he began work toward his master’s thesis in 1930. Olson’s pioneering wolf research, though unsophisticated by today’s standards, transformed him into an admirer of the species and resulted in the first-ever scientific study of wolves. His thesis, ‘The Life History of the Timber Wolf and the Coyote: A Study in Predatory Animal Control,’ on display at the exhibit, ended with the proposal that Minnesota’s Superior National Forest be designated as a sanctuary for carnivores.”
The new exhibit includes several unique components:
- A recreation of Olson’s writing shack, where he worked on several of his beloved books of essays.
- Eight Francis Lee Jaques pen and ink originals, which were used to illustrate The Singing Wilderness and Listening Point.
- A map of Olson-influenced wilderness areas around the country.
- The story of the Listening Point Foundation, which advances Olson’s legacy of wilderness education and preserves his cabin at Listening Point near Ely.
- Photos and other artifacts.
Visit the exhibit
The exhibit is open now through October 31st. The Wolf Center’s hours are:
- May 17 – June 14
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. - June 15 – August 17
Open daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. - August 18 – October 27
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. - October 28 – May 16, 2014
Open Friday, Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.