Are We Doing Our Very Best to Promote the Area?

EDITORIAL - Friday, November 14, 2008 - Have you ever heard of geocaching? Do you have any idea what a silent but significant impact geocaching has had on the Ironwood area?

According to the website www.geocaching.com, "Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment."

I urge everybody to visit this site! Be prepared, however, to be slapped in the face with the realization that we -- as a community -- do a very poor job of promoting ourselves. People shouldn't need satellite assisted global positioning devices to find Ironwood, Hiawatha, Norrie Park, our college, our downtown, Copper Peak, our historic mining locations, etc.

Since December 28, 2002, 277 visits to Ironwood's Hiawatha have been logged onto this international geocaching site. These 277 visitors to our area spent money in our stores; they rented rooms in our motels; they've eaten meals in our restaurants... and most of us never had a clue that they were here -- or why!

Read the following posts and you will also realize that Ironwood is really missing the boat when it comes to "selling" our area. We have so many nice things that other people would love to enjoy... but we keep them -- for whatever reason -- a deep dark secret!

On November 13, 2008,  "cbiij" posted, "Loved the big guy - have been to Ironwood many times but didn't know he was hanging around the neighborhood! Both members of the cbiij team love railroading and mining, so this was the perfect spot to check out all the cool old foundations, tools, and even an ore car! Thanks for showing us this great spot! Sorry someone takes the "real" caches, but this virtual was a great reward."

How many tourists would come to Ironwood if we took the time to create tributes, museums, displays, etc.  to the mines that made this area thrive in decades past?

On June 18, 2008, "Tollybrew" commented, "We were in town and didn't know this was here. Cool spot. Thanks for bringing us here!"

When people are visiting the area, shouldn't they be aware of our landmarks and "tourist traps?" There should be Hiawatha signs and promotions everywhere!

"Team CoyChev" posted on November 1, 2007, "WOW! This guy is HUGE! Thanks for showing us something that we would never have found on our own."

In years past, the Ironwood area did a much better job of promoting the "World's Tallest Indian." What's changed? Why did we suddenly stop pushing the tourist gimmick that obviously works? People seem to be fascinated by the guy!

An October 11, 2007 post by "looking4caches" wrote, "Our first Michigan cache and he is HUGE! Thanks for bringing us here. If we weren't cachers we would never have visited this sight. We enjoyed seeing him!"

EVERYBODY passing through the area should be inundated with information about the area! Keep reading... folks we are missing the boat!

"Although we've been up & down Hwy 2 many times since 1965, we had NO IDEA this was here!! We weren't sure what you required as 'proof' for logging this virtual cache, so please email us if you need any additional info (we didn't want to give away TOO much detail, so that others can enjoy this "find" as much as we did). Thanks so much for showing us this spot, we got some great pix & will try to remember to post them later." -- July 20, 2007 by "Team Teman"

September 4, 2006 by "bayfieldhunter," "So many times through but never knew it was here, thanks."

July 30, 2006 by "winnipegk5," "Nice landmark. We had been to Ironwood before but never knew about this area. TFTC (Thanks for the cache). I will post a picture when we get home."

June 30, 2006 by "WPee & mapp," "Wow! I've been to Ironwood probably hundreds of times and never knew he was there. So glad that you didn't give up and made him a virtual. We enjoyed the find! TFTC"

June 28, 2006 by "Jeepster, "Yes, it was worth fighting the roadwork to see this cache site. We've travelled this way many times over the years, but it's the first time we've seen this site. Thanks!"

May 21, 2006 by "Montgomery Ward," "Thanks for the stop! First time in Michigan on our way to the AMSOIL HQ in Superior. Neat hidden little town and I wonder where the iron ore mine is or was it a strip mine near by?"

September 11, 2005 by "GeodeGal," "TFTC I have traveled through here several times but never knew this existed. Good stop on my way home to the LP from Alaska."

August 6, 2005 by "bflentje," "YES, our team made it to Ironwood, MI from Rosemount, MN. This was our first of three caches for the day. We came to the area to check out the towns for winter snowmobiling action. We also enjoyed the history. I had no idea this area was big for iron mining. Pictures to follow just as we can get them off of the camera. TFTC."

June 11, 2005 by "jimbo9029," "Found it. Never knew that that was there. lived here all my life. thanks for the fun."

May 28, 2005 by "srvive,"  "HI!!! What an interesting spot! We took ATVing freinds with us on this virtual cache during the ATV rally in Hurley over the Memorial Wknd. Most of us have been coming up for many years now and never knew about this spot. TFTC Find 18 for Srvive & Wife. Did get a picture of us by the cache but only with a regular camera."

May 27, 2005 by "Laddy," "I have driven M28 about 10 times and never knew that huge item was there. Thank you for introducing me to it."

December 28, 2004 by "ilwx," "Found it without a problem at night. I took a few pictures, but the color balance was off a little bit. Thanks for showing me something I would have never seen if it hadn't been for the cache!"

September 23, 2004 by "Stooper and B.," "We were on our way home, but decided it would be fun to do a cache in MI. The only problem was we did not have any cache pages ready, so we thought... library! We circled Ironwood 3 times in order to find the library. And as wecircled I thought boy that big "guardian" would be a good place for a cache. Low and behold, when we got on-line...there it was. So we zipped over there to get a closer look."

July 25, 2003 by "Tandembiker," "We stopped in Ironwood for the night and went after this cache. Quite a sight when you approach the location. Never knew he was there. Found the cache at 7:14 p.m. after a bit of searching. Other visitors were there and the location is quite exposed. Cache is in good shape. TN and left a TandemBiker calling card."

The reason I am posting this editorial isn't to demean or insult anybody. I'm posting it as a wake-up call to our community. Those of us that have lived here all our lives don't think twice about where the college is; where Copper Peak is; how to get to Saxon Harbor; how to find Little Girl's Point; where the Memorial Building is; that we have a downtown and it isn't the highway; where we can find the Library... etc.

We need to "think like visitors" to make the area more visitor friendly. Months ago I suggested the idea of wayfinder signs to the DIDA. Communities all over Northern Wisconsin, the U.P., and Northern Minnesota have them everywhere! Wayfinders are meant to guide people through areas they have never traveled. The fact that they are everywhere is the key to their success. Hurley did a great job with their wayfinder signs. Ironwood dropped the ball! Four signs in the downtown are not going to help anybody find anything. You shouldn't need GPS coordinates to find the wayfinder signs. Signs need to be virtually everywhere pointing out every point of interest in the area. If we want people to be aware of us... and to find what we have to offer, we need to start doing a better job letting them know we are here!

Jim Albert