Mick Hartley

Yes, that was the year a young Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan, was born in the northern Minnesota town. [Actually he was born in Duluth, but brought up in Hibbing.] It was also the year John Vachon visited:

August 1941. "Hull-Rust-Mahoning, world's largest open pit iron mine, near Hibbing, Minnesota."

August 1941. "Moving railroad track in the Mahoning pit. Hibbing, Minnesota."

August 1941. "House in North Hibbing, Minnesota, on the edge of the world's largest open pit iron mine. Houses in this section are being demolished daily as mining operations expand."

August 1941. "Children of old Hibbing, Minnesota, the part of town which is gradually being torn down as mining operations expand, sell pieces of ore and iron range souvenirs to tourists."
[Photos: Shorpy/John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration]

Read here about the relocation of Hibbing to make way for the mine.

The Hull–Rust–Mahoning is one of Hibbing's major attractions – alongside Dylan's childhood home – with a public overlook and visitor center on the rim of the mine attracting tens of thousands of tourists each year.