Dorothy Molter Museum

Dorothy Molter Museum Inspiring the next generation of Northwoods citizens and stewards through the legacy of Dorothy Molter. Open to the public spring-fall.

Visit www.rootbeerlady.com for details. The Dorothy Molter Museum is located on the south side of Hwy 169 on the east end of Ely, MN. Reservations are required to explore the three historic cabins and their exhibits. Reservations are available online year-round depending on availability and snow conditions.

This image is one of a group of photographs donated by a former Wilderness Canoe Base Guide, taken in either 1977 or 198...
06/06/2026

This image is one of a group of photographs donated by a former Wilderness Canoe Base Guide, taken in either 1977 or 1980.
In it, we can see a group of visitors talking to a nearly out of sight Dorothy at the far left of the picture. At the right, one of the paddle fences is visible.
It was tradition to give a broken paddle to Dorothy to paint and hang on the fence line to decorate the Isle of Pines. In the far back, the infamous KWITCHURBELIAKIN sign is visible. Overall, this photo is an amazing snapshot of a visit to Dorothy’s.
The Museum continues this tradition with our Membership program. As a private, non-profit museum, we rely on the generosity of supporters and visitors. We highlight that generosity with Member Paddles on our own paddle fences.
Learn more at rootbeerlady.com

Collection of the DMM 2025.011.005: Visitors Talking to Dorothy Near Paddle Fence

Classes start next week on Friday, June 12!Register today for one of our weekly root beer-making classes in partnership ...
06/05/2026

Classes start next week on Friday, June 12!
Register today for one of our weekly root beer-making classes in partnership with the where you learn about the history of root beer and make your own 32oz growler to take home
This class is offered weekly on Fridays* at 12pm and cost $43/person with a sliding scale available.
*Our Independence Day week program will be on Thursday, July 2.
Learn more and register at https://conta.cc/43KNxX7

Today’s collection item is a painted paddle from Camp Northland. Dorothy would often decorate her fence line with canoe ...
06/04/2026

Today’s collection item is a painted paddle from Camp Northland.
Dorothy would often decorate her fence line with canoe paddles. It was tradition if you broke your paddle on the way, you could paint it and give it to Dorothy. Here, we see that these Northland campers visited from 1971 through 1975, adding each year as they visited.
Did you ever visit Dorothy as part of a youth group?

Collection of the DMM 2012.001.845a: Canoe Paddle

This unique design is based directly off the iconic plaid button-down flannel shirts that Dorothy Molter wore during her...
06/03/2026

This unique design is based directly off the iconic plaid button-down flannel shirts that Dorothy Molter wore during her life of adventure and self-sufficiency in the wilderness.

The front pocket features a label with "Dorothy Molter Museum" and the plaid pattern includes hidden icons representing part of Dorothy's life including a canoe, crossed paddles, root beer bottles, KWITCHURBELIAKIN or the state of Minnesota. Made from 100% cotton, this shirt is comfortable and breathable, perfect for everyday wear.
Find them in-store (daily 10am-5pm) or online at shop.rootbeerlady.com

Photo: Meet Erin M. and Dax L., two of our three Small Museum Management Interns this season!

We just upped our root beer game with a new interactive Google map to help YOU find Dorothy's Isle of Pines Root Beer!Th...
06/02/2026

We just upped our root beer game with a new interactive Google map to help YOU find Dorothy's Isle of Pines Root Beer!
The Dorothy Molter Museum along with its distribution partners and wholesale customers offer Dorothy’s Root Beer outside of Ely for retail purchase.
Most of our distibution is northern Minnesota and Wisconsin Areas with the following outside of that zone:
📍 in Upper Michigan
📍 Food Truck based in the Twin Cities
📍 in Wisconsin Dells, WI
📍 in Kansas City, MO

NOTE: Some retailers only carry Dorothy’s seasonally so we recommend checking in advance of travel

🚣‍♂️ There's still time!The Dorothy Molter museum is excited to sponsor the Minnesota Paddling Opener coming up on June ...
06/01/2026

🚣‍♂️ There's still time!

The Dorothy Molter museum is excited to sponsor the Minnesota Paddling Opener coming up on June 12-14.

Join us on the Mississippi River for this family-friendly weekend event AND get 10% off with discount code DOROTHY

🚣‍♀️ New this year: the Crow River 17:
9 miles on the Crow plus 8 miles on the Mississippi.

Wrap up the weekend at the post-paddle party on Sunday in Anoka with live music, pizza, Dorothy's Root Beer and a great finish line atmosphere.

More info and registration at twopaddles.org

This month will focus on what it was like to visit the Isle of Pines, with a focus on the interior of the cabins. This p...
06/01/2026

This month will focus on what it was like to visit the Isle of Pines, with a focus on the interior of the cabins.
This photo of Summer Tent will be a familiar sight to Dorothy’s visitors. Taken in 1983, a STOP sign is visible to let you know you’ve made it to the Isle of Pines. You can see bits of the paddle fence and two of the many ducks that Dorothy fed. These "little piggies" as she would call them were lucky birds enjoying some of the thousand pounds of bird feed Dorothy fed out each year.

Collection of the DMM 2012.001.1248.1204: Summer Tent 1983

Today may be the last day of Nurse's Month but that doesn't mean we should stop supporting, celebrating, honoring and th...
05/31/2026

Today may be the last day of Nurse's Month but that doesn't mean we should stop supporting, celebrating, honoring and thanking the nurses in our lives.
Please be sure to acknowledge the nurses in YOUR life every day!

Collection of the DMM 2025.015.056: Dorothy and a fellow nurse in front of a building labeled Auburn Park Hospital - Winnconna Sanitarium

The final page from Dorothy’s nursing journal is of the 1935-36 Auburn Park Hospital Alumnae Officers. Dorothy herself w...
05/30/2026

The final page from Dorothy’s nursing journal is of the 1935-36 Auburn Park Hospital Alumnae Officers.
Dorothy herself was the secretary and is on the far left of the photo. During this time period, she visited the Isle of Pines from July 9 to August 8. This is the current page that is on display in the Interpretive Center. Come see it in person!

Collection of the DMM 2012.001.1221: Nursing School Journal

Mark your calendar for this season's community open houses at the Museum!🌲Sunday, June 28 is Dorothy Day🌲Sunday, July 26...
05/29/2026

Mark your calendar for this season's community open houses at the Museum!

🌲Sunday, June 28 is Dorothy Day
🌲Sunday, July 26 is Donuts at Dorothy's
🌲Sunday, August 23 is Supporter Appreciation Day

Each even features FREE admission for the entire day (10am-5pm) and special activities and/or refreshments from 11am-2pm.

Celebrate Dorothy's life and legacy with us this summer at one of these open houses!

Address

2002 E Sheridan Street
Ely, MN
55731

Telephone

+12183654451

Website

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