Delightful Duluth

Spent a few days in delightful Duluth, MN.  It didn't hurt that the temps were 75-80 with low humidity.  Outstanding RV location at a marina right downtown; lots of shoreline paths for biking/jogging, could easily walk into town to restaurants/shops, got to enjoy the aerial lift bridge and visitor center/marine museum among other things.  Duluth, along with Superior, WI are active ports on the southwestern edge of Lake Superior (the first or second largest freshwater lake in the world).  With the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie locks (1855), ships could navigate through the entire St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes to bring cargo and passengers to Duluth.  Ships came in loaded and returned empty.  Then in 1870, the Pacific Railroad was started, opening up a gateway to the West, Duluth then became the only port with access to both the Atlantic and the Pacific.  At that point the ships came in loaded and left loaded with Midwest grain, timber, copper, among other things.

 

Duluth has been called the "San Francisco of the Midwest" because of it's topography; from the shoreline you have to climb some impressive elevation to go inland; they must have their hands full managing those roads in the Winter.

 

A view of part of Duluth from the elevated Skyline Parkway; what you see is mainland Duluth bordering the shore of  Superior Bay, the harbor that protects and services the freighters.  The green island is called Minnesota Point, arguably the longest freshwater sandbar/sandspit in the world, connecting Duluth to Superior.  Our RV park was right on the marina that you see in the picture, connected to Canal Park (restaurants/shops/hotels/museums) by the Aerial Lift Bridge.

 Another look further to the South from the Skyline Parkway; note the extensive railroad yards, so important in the development of Duluth; the bridge you see connects Duluth to Superior, WI

A view down Lake Street; don't know if you can tell how steep it is; it is pretty steep; I can see Steve McQueen racing his Mustang (?) down this street with similar effects from his movie "Bullet).

With the discovery of copper, the opening of the Soo Locks, the railroads to the West, Duluth became a major port of entry for mostly European immigrants; they poured in from 1880-1920; Duluth became an Ellis Island; they were hungry for freedom, for a better life.  Some of them stayed: Duluth had 38 different ethnic groups represented; the 1930 census showed that more than 50% of Duluth's population were foreign born.  Even today, Minnesota has much higher than norm immigrant parentage.  The above picture is from the famous Union Depot railroad waiting room in Duluth; they have a museum set up there and an area dedicated to the great immigration period; some great stories and pics there.

For all you Irishmen, blow this pic up and read about the Irish coming to America; my mother's parents and my brother in law's parents both Irish just off the boat.

  
Nice little ditty about Duluth 1892; double click it to read it better.

Where we stayed was on the Minnesota Point, a long freshwater sandbar that borders Superior Bay and protects ships from Lake Superior.  Originally there was only one opening, near Superior, WI and Duluth wasn't getting any business.  The story below tells of how Duluthians took matters into their own hands and carved out a canal so that the Duluth port could compete; interesting story.

After the canal/break in the sandbar was completed the peninsula became an island with a ferry crossing until a competition in 1862 resulted in an idea for a moveable lift span transfer car (like a large gondola) that would transfer people, carriages and carts across the opening. Unfortunately the design wasn't approved by the War Dept in Washington, but eventually something similar was built in the early 1900s.  An unusual Aerial Lift Bridge, where the center section raises up to allow freighters/ships to pass.  Still is use today; attracts quite a crowd when ships pass by; a lot of fun to see.

Typical 1000 foot freighter coming through the canal/under the aerial lift bridge on a nice Saturday afternoon.

Bridge going up; I am on my bike waiting to cross.

 You can get an idea  of how high this thing raises; here the big freighter  passes under when the lift is at max height.

Finally, couldn't resist this pic; the massive Duluth Central High School w/clock tower built in 1892; in use until 1972 when 8 tons of coal/day to heat the place in the winter just got to be too expensive.  Each clock face is 10 1/2 feet in diameter.  The place sits halfway up the hill and it is just massive.  Glad they kept it and renovated it.