Wilderness Calling Cottages - History of Northern Ontario
Museums tell the history of Northern Ontario
As you travel, experience
the history of the region - Near Martin River, about 40 miles north of North Bay, the
Northern Ontario Trappers Museum is built around a trappers cabin, and exhibits of pelts and
trapping gear can be seen - in addition to displays of logging tools and tales of the lumberjacks.
Further north, in Cobalt, the town's birth as a "boom town" can be traced at the cobalt and silver-filled
Mining Museum While in Cobalt, check the Highway Bookshop for area maps, canoe route guides,
and works by Canadian and Indian authors.
The Museum of Northern History, here in Kirkland Lake contains early Indian and Eskimo artifacts and is rich
in mining lore. It is housed in the Chateau, the former mansion
of multi-millionaire mine owner, Sir Harry Oaks. Ride "down north" on the Polar Bear Express (Ontario
Northland Railway) from Cochrane, 185 miles to the remote community of Mooseonee, near the mouth of
the Moose River on James Bay. Here, on a river island called Moose Factory are remnants of the
Hudson Bay's Company's second trading post, erected in the 1670's. The Revillon Freres Museum, in
Mooseonee, represents the Hudson's Bay Company's French rivals, and describes much of the early British
and French conflict over this part of the new world.
A Rock-Hounds Paradise
Since the early part of this century, the area has boasted of the mining of silver, zinc, nickel, copper,
lead, tin, cadmium, and more gold than any other source in North America. A construction crew, building
Government road in Kirkland Lake, accidentally used rock for the roadbed from the piles of Gold
rather then from the waste rock and the legendary "Mile of Gold" was born!
The terrain is rugged and rocky, being one of the oldest sections of the earth's crust - a part of the
Canadian (or Precambrian) Shield - dating back over 500,000,00 years. The vacation prospectors
can find plenty of Pireate (Fools Gold) and magnetized minerals to them
interested - while exploring the area for the tall headframes of old mine workings, and cabins of the early
prospectors. Mine Tours are available in nearby towns - Timmins; Cobalt; Temagami.
It's Downhill to the Artic
The Kirkland Lake Area is located on the southerly foothills of the Artic Watershed. Less
then twenty miles north of here, on Rte. 11 near Ramore, it's downhill to the Artic for all
waterways north of that point.
Other Area Attractions Close By
At nearby Esker Lakes Provincial Park there are opportunities for hiking, nature study,
and canoe tripping in a semi-wilderness environment. The Northern Ontario Wildlife Park
in Earlton has animals both native to Northern Ontario and from other parts of the world.
Enjoy Artic Horned Owls, Wolves, Buffalo, Cougar, Fox, Coyote, Caribou, Moose and many more, in a park-like
setting - don't forget your camera!
Just south of Kenogami, on Hwy. 66, you can visit Canada's largest tree nursery -
and nearby, visitor's are welcome at the provincial fish hatchery. Public facilities near
Kirkland Lake include a 9-hole gold course, tennis courts, ball park, heated swimming pool, and ice
rinks for hockey, curling and skating.
Come on "down and visit - there's something for everyone!
