North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum, museum in Tofte, Minnesota
The North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum is a maritime museum in Tofte, Minnesota, dedicated to the history of fishing on Lake Superior. The collection includes old boats, fishing tools, nets, and photographs that document how techniques evolved over time, plus a replica of a traditional fish house where catch was processed.
The museum opened in 1996, founded by the Tofte Historical Society to preserve fishing memories before they disappeared. Displays document how equipment evolved, such as the shift from cotton and linen nets to stronger nylon nets in the 1940s, marking a turning point in how fishing was done.
The museum reflects how fishing shaped the identity and daily life of people living along Lake Superior's shore for generations. Visitors can see how this waterfront community organized itself around the rhythms of the catch and the seasons, making the lake central to their way of life.
The museum is open Sunday through Thursday during daytime hours, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors should allow time to browse the photographs of over 100 old fish houses and explore the boat displays at their own pace.
The museum features the Carlsen family, local fishers whose donations include a large fish-scaling machine that automatically removed scales as fish tumbled through water spray. This device shows how labor-saving innovations changed the pace and efficiency of the work over time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
