Listening Point cabin added to historic Register

by Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — The cabin in wilderness writer Sigurd Olson's "Listening Point" has been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Olson wrote nine books, including "The Singing Wilderness" and "Listening Point," titled after a spot on an island in Burntside Lake.

The cabin is maintained by the Listening Point Foundation. Executive Director Alanna Johnson says Olson worked for wilderness preservation on a national level, but he lived for many years in Ely.

"He built the cabin with idea in mind that he was going to write out there, and he tried it a couple of times and for him there was too much going on," Johnson said.

Johnson says the recognition will help the foundation get grants to educate new wilderness leaders.