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Hinckley Fire Museum

Sometimes we have to confront the hard stories, the real stories—not the artificial, slam-bang action of video games, movies and television—but the more poignant stories of people facing threats to their lives, their families, their homes and their communities. The Hinckley Fire Museum offers us a chance to teach our grandchildren about perhaps the greatest tragedy in Minnesota history.

On September 1, 1894, several fires were already burning near Hinckley. It was one of the driest years on record, and tree debris left smoldering by loggers only added fuel. Two of the larger fires joined and turned into an incredibly intense firestorm, which claimed 418 lives en route to destroying six towns and four hundred square miles of land—all within four hours.

The Hinckley Fire Museum puts you and your grandchild there. Imagine flames that soared so high they could be seen in the Twin Cities! Gaze at the vivid colors of the mural. Watch the movie. View the artifacts. It all contributes to a reality that is hard to imagine but impossible to ignore.

Talk to your grandchild about the heroism of train engineers, hands on the throttle, their cars loaded with people, the heat so intense that the windows burst, the steel rails turning soft, the wooden ties exploding into flames. Imagine standing during the middle of the day, surrounded by darkness, of fire raining all around you, of thunder booming in a dry sky—nails melting, animals seeking shelter, humans not knowing which way to turn. It is a terrifying yet important chapter in Minnesota lore.

As a side note, I should also mention that the museum resides in a restored 1894 St. Paul and Duluth railroad depot, housing artifacts from the railroad era. But the main attraction remains the events of Hinckley’s tragic fire.

The museum is a great place for you to share with your grandchild your admiration for the survivors and your sadness for the victims. You may even feel anger about the careless waste of forest that led to this tragedy. Most importantly, this fire exhibit is a reminder of the will to go on, to rebuild and to start over.

Bonding and bridging:

The events surrounding the Hinckley Fire are truly sad. However, as with most tragedies, the fire also brought out the best in some people—demonstrating tremendous courage and a will to live. You should focus your grandchild’s attention on these attributes.

Tragedies occur every day, from car accidents close to home to the attacks of 9/11 in New York. It’s how we respond during these terrible events that make us who we are. You can only teach your grandchild the joys of living and a compassion for others. That way, if tragedy ever strikes nearby, you can count on her to do the right thing.

A word to the wise:

While in Hinckley, visit the “pit,” one of the places where circumstances converged to allow deer, bear, humans and other creatures to survive side by side, with fire and blackening clouds all around them. Next, pay a visit to the Hinckley Cemetery east of town. With the lines of four trenches and the towering monolith, it is a dramatic reminder of the day’s events.

Age of grandchild: 9 and up

Best season: Summer

Contact: Hinckley Fire Museum, 106 Old Highway 61, Hinckley, MN 55037 • (320) 384-7338 • info@hinckleyfiremuseum.com • www.hinckleyfiremuseum.com

Also check out:

Moose Lake Fire Museum, Moose Lake; (218) 485-4234; mlareahistory@gmail.com

Firefighters Hall & Museum, Minneapolis; (612) 623-3817; info@firehallmuseum.org

There is no grandfather who does not adore his grandson. VICTOR HUGO