I NEVER EXPECTED this of Bemidji.
The northern Minnesota community that we southern Minnesotans peg as the place to have our photos taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox extends way beyond these legendary icons.
This town embraces the arts.
A simple walk through the historic downtown clearly shows just how much Bemidji loves the arts, both visual and performing. Join me on this brief tour into the heart of Paul Bunyan’s hometown and see what I saw.
Art. Everywhere. Just waiting to be discovered.
Minneapolis artist Nickolas Legeros created this bronze sculpture, “Sovereign Son,” now on display at the corner of Sixth St. N.W. and Minnesota Ave. N.W. and part of the 2008 Bemidji Sculpture Walk.
Mary T. Peterson and community painted “Garden of Harmony” on Harmony Foods along Third St. N.W., one of many murals in Bemidji.
The 1903 Beltrami County Courthouse is built in the Beaux arts style and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bemidji artist Al Belleveau created this whimsical and functional artwork/mailbox for The Headwaters School of Music & the Arts, a community school for the arts in downtown Bemidji.
The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, the nation’s longest continually-running summer theater group, performs in the historic Chief Theatre.
Paula Swenson’s mural on Wild Hare Bistro & Coffee House is titled “Circles Fall Together II.”
(Be sure to read my earlier post about the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.)
© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Thanks for the great recognition of Bemidji, MN a truly beautiful city and its love of the arts. I serve on the Paul Bunyan Playhouse board of directors. We are very proud to be the longest standing professional summerstock theatre of the nation. Next year (2010) we celebrate our 60th anniversary. We invite everyone to see at least one – but better yet – all five of our summer performances. Season and coupon tickets will go on sale in May 2010. Visit http://www.paulbunyanplayhouse.com
Bev, You are most welcome regarding the blogs I posted on Bemidji. Unfortunately, I was not able to see one of your productions while in town. But there’s always next time. We have a wonderful refurbished theatre in Faribault too, at The Paradise Center for the Arts. Truly, it’s a delight when I find such unexpected treasures as those I discovered in Bemidji. Watch for another blog or two from your community soon and best wishes as you continue bringing the performing arts to Minnesota’s northwoods.