Downtown Atikokan Self Guided Walking Tour

A self-guided walking tour exploring the history of Atikokan.

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Downtown Atikokan Self Guided Walking Tour

Atikokan, Ontario P0W, Canada

Created By: Tourism Atikokan

Tour Information

This walking tour will take you past outdoor exhibits and murals that depict the rich history of Atikokan. There are six murals located throughout the town. They illustrate the history of two mines, the Steep Rock Iron Mine and Caland Ore Company, which are central to the history of Atikokan. There are many facets to this community, the walking tour will help visitors discover Atikokan. You truly don't know Atikokan until you know its history!

First developed as a Divisional Point on the Canadian Northern Railway, Atikokan grew at a rapid pace with the beginning of iron ore mining. Logging and fur trading were the first industries of this wilderness community. Isolation determined the character of the community which attracted adventurous and determined people who fostered all season sports: hockey, curling, cross-country skiing down-hill skiing, snow machine trails, scenic trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians. Painters of Atikokan express their view of the natural world, writers, poets, choral groups, and musicians enrich the fellowship for which this town is fondly remembered.

Museum Hours: 10 am to 4 pm. Monday to Friday, evenings and weekends by appointment. Telephone: 807-597-6585.

Walking tour information compiled by Lois Fenton, Curator of the Atikokan Museum, Archives and Historical Park, 2019. Please contact with additional information and corrections.


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

The Atikokan Historical Park features local history exhibits from the lumber and mining industry. You will find old pieces of equipment that were used in the mining of Steep Rock. Please stay off the equipment.  1. Lima Shay Locomotive, w... Read more
This Atikokan Injured Workers Memorial and plaque are in memory of those who lost their lives accidentally at work. Mining, logging, construction and the CN Railway are represented.  A memorial Cross with the inscription, "Turning words a... Read more
Path of the Paddle is a canoeing route through the Atikokan region, which is part of The Great Trail. The Quetico Trail Head is opposite the Museum. Paddlers are welcome to leave their packs at the Museum while they pick up supplies in Atik... Read more
The Diamond Drill was donated by Morissette Diamond Drilling, a division Longyear Canada Inc. In March of 1938, Julian G. Cross searched for iron ore deposits, 200 feet below, at the bottom of Steep Rock Lake using a diamond drill operation... Read more
May 3, 1956, the first car of underground ore from Steep Rock Iron Mine went to the markets of North America. The Errington Underground Mine was designed to mine the ore that was to be life in the ground after the open pit was mined to its ... Read more
Chips R Us is a fast food outlet that is operated by Community Living Atikokan from May to September. Their Training and Leisure Centre provides employment training and leisure alternatives from developmentally-disabled adults. Supported Em... Read more
The P & H Shovel Bucket was donated by B.R. Davidson and Built by Clayton Company Limited. The Iron Mine building was generally referred to as the Union Hall for Local 3466 of the United Steel Workers of America. It opened in March of 1... Read more
Stop in the lobby of the Atikokan Town Hall to see a large painting by Elsa Kosola, a well known local artist. The Atikokan Tartan was designed and created by two talented local spinner, Irma Hicks and Jack Fraser. The tartan was created fo... Read more
The chapel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was built in 1931. initially, this church serviced both the Ukrainian and Roman Catholic parishes. In 1970 the Catholic Church sold the chapel to the St. peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic congregat... Read more
The Atikokan Hotel has been here through the ebb and flow of the community. The first building was known as the Pioneer Hotel, built by Tom Rawn and opened in 1900. The first building was destroyed by fire in 1935 and rebuilt the following ... Read more
Atikokan School Section No. 1 was established in 1902. The first school teacher was Miss Brown and her salary was $35.00 per month. By 1921 a new school was needed. The present building was constructed by the John East Company of Fort Franc... Read more
M&C Motors was purchased by Frank Covello and Joe Maronese in November 1954. At that time both families lived in the upstairs apartments. The business ran twenty-four hours a day and had a staff of thirty. The name now stands for Main &... Read more
The Atikokan Wellness Centre is a swimming pool and ice arena complex. Both facilities are associated with the athletic activity of the community. The cartoon panels of hockey players created by local artist Bob Stark are featured in the ic... Read more
The Atikokan Native Friendship Centre. The aims and objectives of the ANFC are to carry out programs consistent with those of a non-profit organization for the social, cultural, educational, and economic advancement of the Native People. Tr... Read more
Atikokan Youth Initiatives opened a Youth Drop In Centre which offers a place for Atikokan youth to gather and play board games, play musical instruments, play pool or air hockey, socialize. Organized events are scheduled on a regular basis... Read more
Walt's Dry Goods established in 1950 by Walt and Millie Beyak, is now owned and operated by their son Randy Beyak. In 1948 Walter Beyak purchased the land for his store from the Canadian National Railway for $350.00, site unseen. Stories of... Read more
Gardner-Denver Drill is to the right of the entrance to the Home Hardware Store. The Gardner Governor Company merged with the Denver Rock Drill Company in 1927, creating one of the best-run manufacturers of rock drilling equipment for the m... Read more
The Enchanted Florist is owned and operated by Karen Vandoorne since 20005. Born and raised in Atikokan she earned her diploma from Humber College before apprenticing with a Dutch Master in White Rock, BC. Karen also has a diploma in hortic... Read more
The Pictograph Gallery is artist-run, and operated by volunteers. Shows of local and regional artists are presented each six times a year. There is an annual Silent Auction and Flea Market fundraiser and a Christmas Market. Established 1987... Read more
The Spirit of the Miners illustrates the mining pits filling up with water and nature reclaiming the lake. The miner's image was inspired by a photograph take by local photographer, Joe Marohnic. The Earthmovers depicts the loading of a Lec... Read more
The Lakemovers was composed in 1992 from photographs selected from the collection in the Atikokan Museum, painted by local artist, Heather Schmutzer. The dredging operations of both Steep Rock Iron Mine and Caland Ore Company are featured w... Read more
The merchandise in Revive is artfully arranged, always changing and very reasonably priced. Opened in 2014 and operated by Jana Anderson. Local authors sell their books in Revive. There are an astonishing number of Atikokan authors, and man... Read more
The Atikokan Progress has been a weekly newspsper since 1950. It is the source of local news, sports, business and community events. 
The Atikokan Public Library was built in 1967, but a library has been in existence since the earliest days when one borrowed a book from a rented corner in a local store in 1952. In A History of Atikokan compiled by Allan A. Vitta for Atiko... Read more
The Cutting Edge is an illustration of the huge cutter on the dredges used by Construction Aggregates Corporation at both mines. CAC was a Chicago based veteran of the dredging industry. The contract for the Steep Rock dredging job was the ... Read more

 

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