Naniboujou Lodge inspired palette


The Naniboujou Lodge is located in northern Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Superior just north of Grand Marais — close to the Canadian border. It was built in the late 1920’s as a very exclusive private club. Memberships were sold to Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, and other public figures of the time. The stock market crash and ensuing financial difficulties turned the Lodge into a hotel for use by the public.

It’s an absolutely beautiful property — pines, water, rock beach, and a quiet location. It’s best known for two things: its very good food, and the dining room in which that food is served.

Antoine Goufee, a French artist, painted Cree Indian designs in 1929 on the 20 feet high ceiling, shaped like a canoe. This is the original painting, it has not been repainted. Also in this room is the largest native rock fireplace in Minnesota, 200 tons of local rock.

Naniboujou is open seasonally. My lunch there was wonderful, and I hope I can stay for a weekend someday.


6 responses to “Naniboujou Lodge inspired palette”

  1. wow! that is an amazing ceiling. i scrolled to the bottom and saw you were thinking what i was thinking…

  2. My green should have been more olive (easier to see now on screen), but man. That would be an eye-catching piece of beadwork!

  3. What an amazing inspiration!!! I can only imagine the what it must have felt like to be in the room!
    Cheers, Denise

  4. It is pretty unbelievable. I’m really glad I was able to eat there — it was an early lunch, which was why I was able to take pictures without people in the way. 🙂

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