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Bemidji, the First City on the Mississippi, is a town resplendent in history and culture. The mighty Mississippi
begins its 2,552-mile journey to New Orleans at Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park, where legend has it that “those
who step across the Mississippi River at its source will live a long and fruitful life and that great riches will come
to them.”
Discover the beauty and charm of this thriving city. The Bemidji area offers the finest in shopping, education,
medical care, technology, lodging and government services. Plus, with more than 400 fishing lakes in a 25-mile
radius, the Bemidji area has some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in Minnesota and the upper
Midwest.
Located at the junction of U.S. Highway 2 and 71 in northwest Minnesota’s Beltrami County, Bemidji is home to
approximately 12,760 people. The area is served by two bus lines (Jefferson Lines for Cross Country connections
and Paul Bunyan Transit for local transportation) and its own regional airport. Bemidji Regional Airport caters to
charter, commercial, freight and jet aircrafts, and offers daily flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport.
Bemidji is an Ojibwe word (“Bay-may-ji-ga-maug”) that means “lake with crossing waters.” It refers to the
Mississippi River, which crosses Lake Bemidji. The city is ripe with vivid history, and is at the center of the
legends of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Many sites in the area are listed on The National Register of
Historic Places including the statues of Paul & Babe.
Visitors to the area are encouraged to stop at the Tourist Information Center on the shore of Lake Bemidji, and
next to the statues, the center is open year round.
In addition to Paul Bunyan memorabilia, the Tourist Information Center features the Fireplace of States, which is
built with stones from all 87 Minnesota counties and 48 U.S. states and many Canadian provinces.
For information on the Bemidji Area call 800-458-2223 or go to the web site at www.bemidji.org.
Other historic sites of interest:
• Library Park and the Chief Bemidji statue
• Community Arts Center in the Carnegie Building
• The Mississippi River Bridge
• Beltrami County Courthouse (built in 1902)
• Sooline Train Depot
• The Great Northern Depot
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(The depot has been restored to house the Beltrami County History Center and Museum)
From state parks, forests and sky blue waters to Pow wows and a vibrant cultural community, Bemidji has
countless attractions to experience year-round. Known for its stunning natural resources, the Bemidji Lakes area
is home to 25 percent of all the recreational waters in Minnesota - including more than 1,100 lakes, rivers and
streams. Nearly every sporting activity (including biking, skiing, curling, sledding, birding and hiking) can be
enjoyed in the area. Local culture is colorful and diverse.
The Red Lake and Leech Lake Indian reservations host Pow wows that are open to the public throughout the
year. Concordia Language Villages recreates six different villages where 11 different languages are taught. The
arts community flourishes as well, with numerous art galleries, musical events, theater and more throughout the
area.
A wide selection of accommodations makes it easy to visit Bemidji. National chain hotels and motels offer value
and convenience, while lakeside cottages and historic log cabins provide unique getaways.
Attractions to visit:
• Paul Bunyan’s Animal Land
• Headwaters Science Center
• Putt-N-Go Amusement Park
• Headwaters School of Music & Art
The flavors and style of Bemidji can be sampled at a huge variety of stores and restaurants. Dining will suit
nearly any taste in settings that range from historic and elegant to casual and family friendly. Bemidji dining is
infused with a Northwood’s ambiance, creating a unique and tasty experience. In addition to the many restaurants
in the area, there are also tempting confectionaries, bakeries, coffee houses and ice cream parlors.
Shopping is an adventure in itself. While there are national stores such as Target, Wal-Mart and The Home
Depot, Bemidji also offers a collection of unique specialty shops and boutiques to explore. Distinctive jewelry,
art, home furnishings, clothing, seasonal items and more can be found. The Bemidji area also offers a variety of
second-hand outlets with various items and antique shops offer treasures of all sorts.
Bemidji comes alive with entertainment and cultural attractions. The Paul Bunyan Playhouse is a professional
summer stock theater in its 57th season that stages regular productions during the summer. Off-season
performances are also presented. The Bemidji Community Theatre also holds regular performances, and allows
community members to be involved in all aspects of theater production. The visual arts community brings a vital
energy to the area as well. With over 40 sculptures and nine murals through out the downtown area in addition to
the many art galleries Bemidji always has new artistic vistas to explore. To experience the best of Bemidji, check
out the many festivals planned throughout the year to celebrate local history, culture and family. Some fabulous
festivals include Minnesota Finlandia Ski Marathon, Paul Bunyan Sled Dog Challenge, Art in the Park, Logging
Days, Jaycees Water Carnival, Lake Bemidji Dragon Boat Festival, First City of Lights Parade and Lighting of
the Pines, and Polar Daze.
Some of the most famed sporting and recreational waters in Minnesota are in the Bemidji Lakes area. From the
gorgeous lakes to the lush surrounding forests, the only limit to staying active in Bemidji is imagination.
Lake Itasca, “the source of the Mississippi River,” is a great spot to take a historic boat tour. Itasca State Park has
more than 24 trails and 30 sites for hiking, biking and some of the best bird watching in the state. With 1.5
million acres and 1,300 lakes, Chippewa National Forest offers an unparalleled amount of activities all year. It
also has the largest nesting population of bald eagles in the continental U.S. Some of the most spectacular sunsets
can be viewed from the shores of Lake Bemidji State Park. Features include a boardwalk to view rare orchids and
unique plants, trails and naturalist programs.
Water
Chippewa National Forest
Mississippi River
Turtle River
Cameron Park
Diamond Point Park
Lake Bemidji State Park
Northwoods Landing
Nymore Beach
Golf
Bemidji Town and Country Club
Castle Highlands
Frisbee Golf
Greenwood Golf Course
Mapleridge Golf Course
Miniature Golf
Trails
Blue Ox Trail
Buena Vista Ski Area
CV Hobson Forest
Itasca State Park
Lake Bemidji State Park
Montebello City Trail
Movil Maze
Paul Bunyan Trail
Three Island
Quality healthcare is available in Bemidji, and North Country Regional Hospital provides expert care for a
variety of needs. This 115-bed acute care hospital specializes in emergency care, ophthalmology, radiology,
dermatology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, vascular
surgery and more. MeritCare Bemidji provides a broad range of healthcare services with over 60 physicians
practicing in 22 specialties. MeritCare also provides a walk-in clinic open six days a week, and offering sameday surgery and comprehensive cancer care.
Bemidji is also fortunate to have a variety of other specialty clinics and health care services such Behavioral
Health, Orthopedics, Eye Care, Orthodontics and Dentistry.
Senior housing is provided by Neilson Place, which offers a new 78-bed long-term care and rehabilitation
facility. Baker Park Senior Housing provides affordable apartment living. Gold Pine and Eldercare provide
seniors with compassionate assisted living environments.
Bemidji Public Arts, Walking Tour, Art Galleries
Downtown
• Bemidji Community Arts Center
• Bemidji State University
• Gallery North
•Great River Gallery
Music & Theater
• Headwaters School of Music & the Arts
• Paul Bunyan Playhouse
• Bemidji Community Theater
Other
• Headwaters Science Center
• Beltrami County History Center
Public Schools
• Bemidji Area Schools
• Bemidji Community Education
Charter Schools
• Schoolcraft Learning Community
• TrekNorth High School
• Voyageurs Expeditionary High School
Private Schools
• Heartland Christian Academy
• St. Philips
• St. Marks
• Concordia Language Villages
Higher Education
• Bemidji State University
• Northwest Technical College
• Oak Hills Christian College
• Professional Salon Academy
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