Human remains have been exposed at a cemetery in northern Minnesota as shoreline erosion along Lake Superior worsens, prompting St. Louis County officials to request approximately $2.5 million for emergency repairs. The Scandia Cemetery, near the popular Glensheen Mansion tourist attraction in Duluth, has seen graves become visible due to ongoing erosion.
County officials first noticed the problem in 2024, and a proposal warns that future weather events and climate change could accelerate degradation. The document highlights concerns over costs for housing and identifying exposed remains. The site is currently managed by a cemetery board.
The graveyard was established in 1881 by the First Norwegian Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the first burial being a 9-year-old boy. According to the local historical society, most interred there were victims of early 20th-century epidemics. “That was prime real estate. Bury your loved ones near the lake, it’s beautiful,” said Rachel Gregg, an engineer with St. Louis County Public Works, noting bones are visible in a hard-to-reach area.
State Senator Jen McEwen supports the $2.55 million proposal to build a concrete retaining wall and implement nature-based stabilization. “We really do need to step up to make sure that we are protecting the public and addressing damage that is a direct result of climate change,” McEwen said. County Commissioner Patrick Boyle added, “As we speak, it continues eroding. I don’t think we can wait on this project any longer.”
The county has applied for a grant from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), funded partly by the state lottery. McEwen, an LCCMR board member, expects some legislative reservations about using these funds, but Boyle remains confident, noting the project is “shovel-ready.” Construction is slated to begin in July 2027 and finish by December 31, 2028.
