Grand Marais, Minnesota
Grand Marais is a city of 1,796 people in Cook County, Minnesota.
Why visit Grand Marais
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 22 places to eat, 20 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Grand Marais Light, Grand Marais Lighthouse, Cook County History Museum and Bally Blacksmith Shop.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 70°F; January lows average 7°F.
Weather in Grand Marais
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Grand Marais
Grand Marais is a city and the county seat of Cook County, Minnesota, United States, of which it is the only municipality. It is on Lake Superior's North Shore. Grand Marais had a population of 1,337 at the 2020 census. Before it was settled by French Canadians and before Minnesota's statehood, it was inhabited by the Ojibwe.
From the Wikipedia article Grand Marais, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Grand Marais Light
Lighthouse · 1.0 mi
Lighthouse in Minnesota, United States
Museums and landmarks8
Cook County History Museum
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic building in Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States
8 South Broadway, Grand Marais
Bally Blacksmith Shop
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Blacksmith shop in Grand Marais, Minnesota
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Cook County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Courthouse in Minnesota, United States
Jim Scott Fishhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi
Operating seasonally, Coast Guard Station North Superior's missions include Law Enforcement, Ice Rescue, and Homeland Security. The...
315 South North Superior, Grand Marais
Coast Guard Station Boathouse
Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi
This was the only Coast Guard Station on the North Shore of Lake Superior except for Duluth, Minnesota. As shipping, fishing and logging...
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes22
Angry Trout Cafe
Restaurant · Fish, Seafood, American · 0.7 mi
416 West Highway 61, Grand Marais
Su-Th 11:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Java Moose
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.7 mi
218 West Highway 61, Grand Marais
Mo-Sa 07:00-15:00; Su 07:00-15:00
South of the Border Cafe
Cafe · American · 0.7 mi
4 West Highway 61
Mo,We-Sa 06:00-14:00; Su 06:00-12:00
Sydney's Frozen Custard
Restaurant · Ice Cream · 0.9 mi
19 Wisconsin Street
Mo 11:00-20:00; Tu,Th-Su 11:00-21:00
Hungry Hippie Tacos
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
15 West Highway 61
We,Th 11:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00
10 more on the map.
History
The Ojibwe name for the area is Gichi-biitoobiig, which means "great duplicate water," "parallel body of water" or "double body of water" (like a bayou), a reference to the two bays that form this large harbor of Lake Superior.
The area was a bustling fur trading station in the 1700s, and the French Canadian Voyageurs termed the settled village "Grand Marais" ("Great Marsh"), referring to a marsh that, in early fur-trading times, was 20 acres (8.1 ha) or less in area, nearly at the level of Lake Superior, and at the head of the little bay and harbor that led to the settlement of the village there. Another small bay on the east, less protected from storms, is separated from the harbor by a slight projecting point and a short beach. "Grand Marais" also may mean "sheltered water area", as the harbor has natural breakwall rock outcroppings, providing a natural safe harbor for early Lake Superior explorers.
The area is home to several nonprofit educational institutions, such as the Grand Marais Art Colony and the North House Folk School, and art galleries featuring the work of local and regional artists.
On April 13, 2020, a large fire swept through downtown Grand Marais, destroying three buildings: The Crooked Spoon Cafe, White Pine North, and Picnic and Pine. The fire burned for over three hours in intense winds.
From the History section of Grand Marais, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay20
Best Western Plus Superior Inn
Motel and hotel · 0.8 mi
104 1st Avenue East, Grand Marais
Cobblestone Cove Villas
Motel and hotel · 0.9 mi
17 South Broadway Avenue, Grand Marais
Churches and places of worship7
Church of St. Francis Xavier
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Shopping23
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare2
Map of Grand Marais
106 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 0.8 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 10°F | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 35°F | 20°F | 1.2 in |
| Apr | 45°F | 30°F | 2.2 in |
| May | 55°F | 38°F | 2.5 in |
| Jun | 62°F | 44°F | 3.7 in |
| Jul | 70°F | 51°F | 3.1 in |
| Aug | 70°F | 54°F | 2.4 in |
| Sep | 63°F | 48°F | 2.6 in |
| Oct | 52°F | 38°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 39°F | 26°F | 1.9 in |
| Dec | 29°F | 14°F | 1.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Grand Marais (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cook County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-06-28: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2022-07-13: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-07-06: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2009-04-09: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Grand Marais-Cook County Airport (GRM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Silver Bay 54 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- BreakwaterGrandMaraisMN, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Welcome to the Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway - Grand Marais, Minnesota (37592732206), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cook County Courthouse - Grand Marais - Minnesota (51262830143), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Roofers on Cook County Courthouse - Grand Marais - Minnesota (52957987237), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Cook County Courthouse in Grand Marais, Minnesota, Peter Elvin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, Minnesota, Myotus, CC BY 4.0
- Voyageur Brewing, Grand Marais, Minnesota 09, Myotus, CC BY 4.0
- Public Library, Grand Marais, Minnesota-02, Myotus, CC BY 4.0
- Public Library, Grand Marais, Minnesota-01, Myotus, CC BY 4.0
- Visit Cook County tourist information center, Grand Marais, Minnesota 08, Myotus, CC BY 4.0
- Good Morning Sunshine Gas Station in Grand Marais, Minnesota (36200726665), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Looking south on First Avenue W, Grand Marais, Minnesota 07, Myotus, CC BY 4.0
- Event banner, Cook County Pride, Grand Marais, Minnesota, Myotus, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lighthouse Of Grand Marais, Robin Férand, CC BY 3.0
- Lightkeeper's House, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Church of St. Francis Xavier 2017, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bally Blacksmith Shop, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- CookCountyCourtHouseMN, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- GrandMaraisLight, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Gunflint trail water tower, Molandfreak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cook County Courthouse, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cook County Minnesota Courthouse, Peter Elvin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lilacs and Butterfly - panoramio, karlee ladyk, CC BY 3.0
- Jim Scott Fishhouse, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Buck's Calumet Gas Station and Hardware Hank Store (37383424000), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Artist Point Bay, Robin Férand, CC BY 3.0
- Artist Point, Robin Férand, CC BY 3.0
- Artist Point, Robin Férand, CC BY 3.0
- Artist Point, Robin Férand, CC BY 3.0
- Lighthouse, Robin Férand, CC BY 3.0
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