On This Date in Minnesota History: October 24

October 24, 1907 – “There is much activity at the Hull mine [in Hibbing, Minn.] these days. Eight shovels are at work—four in ore and four stripping. The stripping is being carried on at the east end of the pit, and rapid progress is being made. At the south side of the pit, Drake & Stratton have one shovel, which is beginning the stripping of Mahoning No. 2. Six cottages have been put up for the accommodation of Drake & Stratton’s employees.

There are nine drills working on the Hull forties, east of the pit toward town, and the Steel corporation is evidently attempting to determine the exact lay of the ore body, which is credited by the state tax commission with being the largest in Minnesota.” 

Today, the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine in Hibbing is the world’s largest open-pit mine. Established in 1895, the mine was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 13, 1966.

Duluth Herald; “Hull Mine Busy. Eight Shovels and Nine Drills Are Making Good Progress.”; October 24, 1907; p. 7.

Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine in Hibbing, Minn.

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Oct. 24, 2013,
as long as acknowledgement included.