Photographs of the beginning of forestry in Minnesota.
Forest of Minnesota map from the First Annual Report of the Chief Fire Warden, November, 1895.
During logging operation in the 1800s and early 1900s, slash piles of limbs and small logs dotted the landscape.
Largest white pine cut in Minnesota happened in 1906. Stump diameter was equal to 76 inches and was aged at 420 years.
June 1910 letter from Forestry Commissioner C.C. Andrews releasing fire wardens and firefighters because funds were exhausted.
The Oct 7, 1910, Baudette-Spooner Fire triggered the development of the Minnesota Forest Service.
Sandy Lake Cabin in District #2 in Moose Lake with foresters Evens, Anderson, Herman Pittman, and E.V. Gafvert. District cabins served as partrolman headquarters, equipment storage, and a station of service telephones.
Miss Johnson in front of the Jasper Lake lookout station. She was the first female lookout in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Conservation 1928 Model A, an early fire fighting unit.
Minnesota Forest Service State Fair Display. From the first days of the Minnesota Forest Service, camping was part of the job.
1942 school tree planting in celebration of Arbor Day.
Photographs of several historical fires
Great Hinckley Fire 1894, Sept 1. 300,000 acres burned, 418 lives lost. Hinckley school before fire.
Hinckley school after fire
Chisholm Fire 1908, Sept 4. 20,000 acres burned, 0 lives lost. Chisholm City Hall after fire.
Baudette-Spooner Fire 1910, Oct 7. 300,000 acres burned, 42 lives lost. Towns of Baudette-Spooner before fire.
Towns of Baudette-Spooner after fire.
Cloquet-Moose Lake Fire 1918, Oct 12. 250,00 acres burned, 452 lives lost. Town of Cloquet before fire.
Town of Cloquet after fire.
Brainerd By-Pass Fire 2002, May 31. 720 acres burned, 0 lives lost. Image of the fire racing down the road.
Carlos Edge Fire 2000, Oct 18. 8,500 acres burned, 0 lives lost. Remnants of log home.
Apline Lake Fire 2005, Aug 6. View of CL-215 plane air lifting water to fire.
Cavity Lake Fire 2006, July 14. 31,800 acres burned, 0 lives lost.
Ham Lake Fire 2007, May 5. 75,850 acres burned, 0 lives lost.