Ely Heritage Preservation Commission

Ely Heritage Preservation Commission From the City of Ely Code:
SEC. 2.60. HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION. Subd.1. Declaration of Public Policy and Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to:
A. B.

The Ely Heritage Preservation Commission serves to protect and enhance the Ely’s appeal to residents, visitors, and tourists, serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry and foster civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past. The City Council hereby declares as a matter of public policy that the preservation protection, perpetuation and use of areas, places, buildings, s

tructures, and other objects having special historical interest or value is a public necessity and is required in the interest of the health, safety, welfare and prosperity of the people. Safeguard the heritage of the City of Ely by preserving sites and
structures which reflect elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, visual or architectural history. Protect and enhance the City of Ely's appeal to residents, visitors and
tourists, and serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry. C. Foster civic pride in the beauty and notable accomplishments of the
past, and
D. Promote the preservation and continued use of historic sites and
structures for the education and general welfare of the people of the City of Ely.

Music brought Slovenia to Ely.As part of Ely's celebration of artist Harvey Gregory Prusheck — Gregor Perušek — the Ely ...
09/02/2026

Music brought Slovenia to Ely.

As part of Ely's celebration of artist Harvey Gregory Prusheck — Gregor Perušek — the Ely Heritage Preservation Commission was honored to welcome Vokalna skupina Krila of Slovenia to historic Ely City Hall.

Introduced by Miro Medved, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Minnesota, Krila filled the council chambers with Slovenian song.

It was a beautiful reminder that the story of one painting hanging in Ely connects our community to people, places, and traditions an ocean away.

Thank you, Krila, for sharing your voices with Ely.

Learn more:

Miro Medved — Honorary Consul of Slovenia in Minnesota
https://www.sloveniaconsulatemn.org/honconsul
Vokalna skupina Krila — https://www.facebook.com/people/Vokalna-skupina-Krila/100063123555741/

We did it! When the Ely Heritage Preservation Commission asked the community to help preserve the Prusheck painting hang...
08/31/2026

We did it! When the Ely Heritage Preservation Commission asked the community to help preserve the Prusheck painting hanging in historic Ely City Hall, you showed up.

Because of your generosity, we reached our fundraising goal for the restoration of this important piece of Ely history.

The restoration will address the needs identified by art professionals, including cleaning the painting, adding protective glazing and repairing the frame.

But over the course of this project, something else happened:
We learned about an artist whose life crossed continents.
We rediscovered Ely's connection to Slovenian-American history.
We welcomed visitors from Slovenia.
We heard Slovenian language and music inside Ely City Hall.
And we connected a painting that has hung quietly in our public buildings for generations to a much larger international story.
Most importantly, we made sure it will remain here for another generation to discover.

Thank you to every donor, speaker, musician, volunteer, visitor, and community member who made this possible.

Historic preservation isn't simply about saving old things; it's about remembering why they matter.

How did a painting by a Slovenian-American modernist become part of Ely's story?The answer takes us back to 1935. That J...
08/28/2026

How did a painting by a Slovenian-American modernist become part of Ely's story?

The answer takes us back to 1935. That July, Harvey Gregory Prusheck came to Ely and exhibited his work at the Jugoslav National Home. The Ely Miner reported that the exhibition included sketches, woodcuts, monotypes and oil paintings from
Prusheck's travels across the United States.

But Ely visitors were especially interested in the local work, as
Prusheck painted scenes here. The newspaper specifically mentioned an Ely view featuring three local churches, as well as a scene of Sandy Point completed during his visit.

One of Prusheck's paintings eventually became part of Ely's public collection and was displayed at the city's original Community Center. Decades later, when that building was being closed, the painting was rediscovered and moved to City Hall.

Today, it hangs only a short distance from where Prusheck exhibited his work nearly a century ago.

And while this painting has been quietly waiting for us to rediscover its story, Gregor Perušek's work is
being rediscovered internationally as well.

One painting. One artist. Two countries. Nearly a century of history.

One painting brought Ely and Slovenia together. On August 2, Ely City Hall became a meeting place between communities se...
08/26/2026

One painting brought Ely and Slovenia together.

On August 2, Ely City Hall became a meeting place between communities separated by thousands of miles — but connected by history.

The Ely Heritage Preservation Commission was honored to welcome Slovenian scholars, musicians, cultural leaders and diplomatic representatives to celebrate Harvey Gregory Prusheck / Gregor Perušek and the painting that has remained part of Ely's public collection for generations.

Our guests included:
Suzana Češarek, Consul General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland; Miro Medved, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Minnesota; Joe Valencic, President of the Slovenian Union of America; Dr. Mirjam Milharčič Hladnik of the Slovenian Migration Institute; and Vokalna skupina Krila of Slovenia.

We are grateful to everyone who traveled to Ely — and to the extraordinary number of community members who filled City Hall to welcome them.

Historic preservation connects an object to a story, a story to a community, and a community to the wider world.

Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing more about Mr. Prusheck, the painting and restoration efforts that brought our communities together, and the August 2nd celebration at Ely City Hall. Stay tuned!

Learn More about each guest:
Suzana Češarek: https://www.gov.si/en/representations/consulate-general-cleveland/about-the-consulate-general-cleveland/suzana-cesarek-consul-general/
Miro Medved: https://www.sloveniaconsulatemn.org/honconsul
Joe Valencic: https://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/joe-valencic/
Dr. Mirjam Milharčič Hladnik: https://isim.zrc-sazu.si/en/sodelavci/mirjam-milharcic-hladnik-en
Krila: https://www.facebook.com/people/Vokalna-skupina-Krila/100063123555741/

Stop by the Ely Regional Trailhead building to check out the recently installed Carl Gawboy mural! Spanning nearly 24 fe...
08/26/2026

Stop by the Ely Regional Trailhead building to check out the recently installed Carl Gawboy mural! Spanning nearly 24 feet, the artwork features a panoramic view of the wilderness near Ely. Painted on the walls at the original Community Center by Ely high school student Gawboy in 1960, the mural has been reproduced by Gawboy and Ely photographer Curt Laine. Volunteers of Ely Heritage Preservation Commission developed this project with
funding from the Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust and the City of Ely, Minnesota. Photos by Ely Heritage Preservation Commission.

Tour Ely made the list! You can find the tour brochures all over the area and view the map at tourely.visitelymn.org
07/29/2026

Tour Ely made the list! You can find the tour brochures all over the area and view the map at tourely.visitelymn.org

06/29/2026

FREE! Ely’s Historic Pioneer Mine
401 North Pioneer Road
Across from Grand Ely Lodge and alongside Miners Lake

Learn Ely’s Rich Mining History
Tuesdays 2-5 and Fridays 3-6
From Former Miners.
Also Open When You See the Green Jeep there!

Free Exhibits & More!

Celebrate Harvey Gregory Prusheck Day with us at Ely City Hall! Harvey Gregory Prusheck was a Slovenian-American artist ...
06/12/2026

Celebrate Harvey Gregory Prusheck Day with us at Ely City Hall!

Harvey Gregory Prusheck was a Slovenian-American artist and art teacher. He exhibited several works in Ely in the 1930s, and one was purchased by the city of Ely. It was then forgotten in a dusty basement and rediscovered almost a century later (read the full story about the rediscovery at the link in the comments!). Mark your calendars to view this remarkable work and celebrate Harvey Gregory Prusheck Day and area Slovenian heritage!
August 2nd, 11 AM - 12 PM

This is a fundraising event for the restoration of the Ely Prusheck painting. Can’t make it? Donate online to the restoration by visiting GiveButter.com/PrusheckPaintingPreservation

City of Ely, Minnesota

Ely History Happy Hour (HHH) just completed its 3rd full season to a packed house! Wednesdays from September to May, HHH...
06/04/2026

Ely History Happy Hour (HHH) just completed its 3rd full season to a packed house! Wednesdays from September to May, HHH takes a look at the fascinating history of the Ely, MN area - in about the time it takes to drink a b**r (30 minutes).

Plan on attending this free community program at the Boathouse Brewpub when it resumes in September. History Happy Hour is hosted by Jess Edberg.

Photos: Brett Ross for Boundary Waters Connect

Spotlight on Heritage Preservation - feeding the soul with a pasty. Putting the finishing touch on a pasty is Master Cri...
05/12/2026

Spotlight on Heritage Preservation - feeding the soul with a pasty. Putting the finishing touch on a pasty is Master Crimper Pat Olson. The crimp is made by pinching together the dough to seal the edges together. The Women of Ely United Methodist Church have been making pasties as a fundraiser since the Great Depression. The Methodist Church has the distinction of being the oldest congregation in Ely to operate in the same building at the same site. The building was completed in 1895.

Pasties have been a staple of the Ely diet since the 1890s, when miners ate them for lunch. Pasty socials were popular too, with the Methodist Church holding events as early as 1900. Cornwall, England is credited as the birthplace of the pasty in the 13th century, where it was food for the upper classes. Later, in the 17th century, Cornish miners adopted the hand-held pasty to eat during their workday.

Favorite garnishes for the pasty include ketchup, gravy, and, for the daring, horseradish. Bon Appétit!

Photos courtesy of Ely Heritage Preservation Commission.

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Ely, MN
55731

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