Grand Marais – The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) will once again host its annual Planked Trout Dinner and Fundraiser on September 1 at 5:00 p.m. at North House Folk School. The event brings the community together to honor a centuries-old cooking tradition, enjoy an evening of fellowship, and support the ongoing work of CCHS.
Plank-cooking fish is a method that originated with the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, who secured salmon to cedar boards near open fires. Later adopted by Great Lakes Indigenous tribes and then white settlers, the technique appeared in 18th-century American cookbooks and was even documented as taking place at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
In the Lake Superior region, documented records of serving planked trout and whitefish date back to at least 1893. “The 1895 Tourist’s and Sportsman’s Guide to Duluth, Superior, and Vicinity” highlighted the dish’s popularity among local establishments and recommended it to visitors as a “must try.” In an oral history, local commercial fisherman Roy Oberg recalled that in the early 1900s, larger whitefish paid more because they were frequently purchased specifically for open-fire planking.
Regional organizations, including the Lake Superior Steelhead Association, have hosted planked-fish meals for decades. In Cook County, the event was first hosted by the Grand Marais Lions Club before the Cook County Historical Society brought it back in 2007.
Tickets
Following our Centennial Celebration with over 100 attendees in 2025, we’re excited to return to a cozy, more intimate gathering this year. Advanced tickets are required, and spots are already filling quickly, so be sure to reserve your tickets early! The meal will feature plank-cooked Lake Superior trout served with cheesy potatoes, coleslaw, wild rice, rolls, and a dessert.
Learn more & purchase tickets at: cookcountyhistory.org/2026-planktrout-dinner
Special thanks to the Cook County Co-op, Crosby Bakery, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Java Moose, Johnson’s Foods, North Superior Fishery, Teresa Bragg and Laurie Spry, and South of the Border Cafe for their generous contributions to this event.
Save the Dates:
Sept. 4: Final Guided Harbor History Tour of the season.
Sept. 5–6: Final weekend for Chippewa City Church and Bally Blacksmith Shop visits for the season.
Sept. 13: Closing day for the Marcia Roepke exhibit at JHP Art Gallery.
For more information, visit: cookcountyhistory.org
