Listening Point Foundation

Keep Sig Olson's philosophy of wilderness alive and support the preservation of his most beloved places. 

Located in Ely, Minnesota, we are the Sigurd F. Olson legacy organization. Sigurd F. Olson (1899-1982) was a well-known environmentalist, award-winning conservation activist, and best-selling author.  

Founded in 1998, Listening Point Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve Listening Point and keep Sig’s legacy and wilderness philosophy alive in the world today.

Vision.

Listening Point was a place of connection for Sig, continually renewing his sense of wonder and gratitude for the natural world. A central theme throughout his written works and speeches is the idea that wild places are integral to the well-being of the human spirit. Sig put it best when he wrote in his book Listening Point:

"Everybody has a listening-point somewhere. It does not have to be in the north or close to the wilderness, but some place of quiet where the universe can be contemplated with awe."

The vision of the Listening Point Foundation is to foster people's connection to wild places by inspiring them to find a listening point in their own lives.

Preserving and sharing places important to Sig.

Listening Point Foundation owns and cares for the property at Listening Point, the Olson home in Ely, and Sig's iconic Writing Shack. We work to preserve the historic integrity of those places and use them as part of our mission to share Sig's philosophy of wilderness with students and visitors from around the globe through guided, historic tours.

   A tour of Sig Olson's Writing Shack in Ely, Minnesota. Featuring: Alanna Dore, Executive Director, 2003-2018.