Place Archive

Iron Range

The Iron Range encompasses active mining operations like Polymet’s NorthMet Project in Hoyt Lakes and relics of LTV Steel in Babbitt. Industrial features such as the Hibbing power plant and warning signs about fire danger highlight the region’s enduring industrial infrastructure and environmental concerns.

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Markers

Iron Range Photo Locations

6 geotagged photos

Hibbing power plant smokestacks in Hibbing, Minnesota, against a clear blue sky — The Hibbing power plant stands in Hibbing, Minnesota, with multiple smokestacks rising above the low industrial buildings. The facility serves the Iron Range area and is part of the region’s long-running energy and industrial network. Weathering and paint on the stacks and structures are visible under clear daylight.

Graffiti reading “Summer 2012” on a rusted metal wall beside a sidewalk and road — Graffiti reading “Summer 2012” is painted on a rust-streaked metal wall beside a sidewalk and roadway. The wall is heavily weathered, with peeling paint and corrosion visible across the surface. Additional faded markings appear on the right side of the panel.

Extreme Fire Danger warning sign in dense vegetation in northern Minnesota — An “Extreme Fire Danger” warning sign stands in dense roadside vegetation in northern Minnesota. The sign urges visitors to use caution in dry conditions.

PolyMet Mining NorthMet Project sign along a road in the Iron Range, with forest behind it — A roadside sign for the PolyMet Mining NorthMet Project stands along a paved road in the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. The weathered sign also names Cliffs Erie LLC, with forest and rocky terrain visible behind it. A small speed limit sign appears farther down the road.

LTV Steel Mining Company sign beside a gravel road in Babbitt, Minnesota — The LTV Steel Mining Company sign stands beside a gravel road in Babbitt, Minnesota, within the Iron Range. The roadside marker sits amid trees and brush near the former mining complex.

Polymet Mine in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, with water-filled pits and haul roads — The Polymet Mine is shown in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. The open-pit site includes water-filled excavation areas, haul roads, and surrounding spoil piles in the Erie Basin. Red industrial buildings and equipment are visible on the horizon across the reclaimed and active mining landscape.

Photo Map

Iron Range Photo Locations

Photographs showcasing change over time