Centuries-old cemetery eroding along Lake Superior leaves human remains exposed

LocalEnvironment
27 Mar 2026 • 1:30 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Human remains have been exposed at Scandia Cemetery in Northern Minnesota due to ongoing shoreline erosion along Lake Superior.
  • St. Louis County officials are requesting approximately $2.5 million to fund a project that includes building a concrete retaining wall and implementing nature-based stabilization methods.
  • State Senator Jen McEwen supports the proposal, attributing the damage directly to climate change, while County Commissioner Patrick Boyle emphasizes the urgency of the project.
  • The cemetery, established in 1881, primarily contains victims of early 20th-century epidemics, and its current caretakers are over 90 years old.
  • The county has applied for a grant from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, with construction anticipated to begin in July 2027 and conclude by December 2028.

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