Ernest Oberholtzer was an early 20th century environmental advocate and explorer known for his efforts to protect the Quetico-Superior region on the Minnesota-Ontario border. In the early 1900s, he canoed over 3,000 miles in the region and nearly froze to death on a 2,000 mile canoe trip along Hudson Bay in 1912. Later in life, Oberholtzer fought successfully to establish some of the first protected wilderness areas in North America, including helping pass the Shipstead Nolan Act in 1930 and supporting the creation of Voyageurs National Park in 1972. He spent 50 years living simply on an island he owned in the border lakes region, advocating for balance between

1. The Life of Ernest Oberholtzer 1884 to 1977 (93) < compare to Aldo Leopold 1887 to 1948 > “ Ober’s might just be the greatest uncelebrated environmental story in North American history… We have too few environmental heroes to allow one so important as Ernest Oberholtzer to slip from our collective memory.” --Joe Paddock, biographer, Keeper of the Wild , 2001

5. Inuit Women (never before photographed in 1912)

7. Billy Magee and Oberholtzer decades later… with Snippy (and a cabbage)

10. Oberholtzer’s Big House in winter

11. Same House in Summer (from the lake)

14. Ernest Oberholtzer, 1964

16. The Living Room in Big House