Welcome to Heritage Days 2010

• Pierre the Voyageur

Pierre the Voyageur was born 50 years ago as a way of reminding people of the frontier historical past in Two Harbors.
• Pierre: The Anatomy of a Giant

Pierre: The Anatomy of a Giant

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• Heritage Days schedule
• Silent for nearly 30 years, Pierre speaks
• Pierre stands tall but now mostly alone

Pierre the Voyageur was born 50 years ago as a way of reminding people of the frontier historical past in Two Harbors. He was also a large advertisement for a new business in town. It was hucksterism in classic form as more Americans took to the road in the late 1950s and into the 1960s, looking for wayside curiosities along the way.

Stanley Nelson’s eclectic museum is long gone but Pierre stands tall off Highway 61 on the west end of town. His longevity and years of producing photo memories for passers-by has made him a Two Harbors legend in his own right.

But Pierre stands apart today, surrounded by nothing but a vacant lot. He’s still a draw for the road-weary, but many wonder what his future looks like after a failed attempt to revitalize the area in which he stands.

Today, he remains for sale along with the lot. Could he be moved? Will someone fix him up?

We answer some lingering questions about this icon and, for the first time, hear from the legend himself.

Click on all the Pierre the Voyageur stories below and find out why the News-Chronicle made Pierre the Voyageur the official mascot for the 2010 Heritage Days.

Tags: two harbors, heritage days, pierre the voyageur, news