A History of Lutsen: Gateway to the Wilderness
- Aug 17, 2021
- 1 min read
Updated: Jun 14
★★★☆☆
The ability to turn a chronological series of events into a compelling page-turner is no small feat. When it’s done well, it can be impossible to notice the craft. When it’s not, the challenge is often crystal clear with every passing paragraph. Such is the case with Robert McDowell’s A History of Lutsen, a serviceable entry in the roster of amateur history books that nevertheless deserves the reader’s admiration, if only for the gumption of the undertaking and not for the result itself.
The history of Lutsen is, in many ways, the history of its founder, Charles Axel Nelson, his family, and the resort they built, operated, and expanded for over 100 years that still exists today. And, too often, especially in later chapters, I felt I was reading a book more appropriately titled A History of Lutsen Resort: Minnesota’s Oldest Resort. Still, visitors to Lutsen, and the North Shore of Lake Superior generally, will no doubt find something within its pages to enjoy, whether it’s the story of intrepid determination to make a home in the wilderness, the Nelson family saga, the wonderful array of historical photos, or the cornucopia of anecdotes that pepper nearly every page.
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