View of the rising sea smoke at sunrise. Sea smoke is a cloud over the sea, which could otherwise be called fog, and is usually formed when very cold air moves over warmer water. We see this phenomena all the time when watching Lake Superior. Photographers capture it with delight. The Blatnik or High Bridge is in the distance behind the Aerial Bridge. It is also known as the Duluth-Superior High Bridge or Blatnik High Bridge or Interstate Bridge. Efforts to secure a toll-free bridge between Duluth and Superior started as early as the 1930s. Other unsuccessful attempts were made in 1940 and 1948. In 1953, approval was given for a new toll bridge, pressure from both cities demanded a toll-free unit. When Congress adopted a new system of interstate and defense highways, the bridge became part of that system and was eligible for 90% federal financing - elevating the need for having it be a toll bridge. In 1956 construction plans were delayed by disagreement over clearance height. It had been set at 100 ft. but, after much debate, increased to 120. Construction started Nov. 28, 1958, on what was the largest single highway project ever undertaken jointly by Minnesota and Wisconsin. About 1.6 million hours were worked by construction employees and 100,000 by engineering and inspection personnel. Three workmen lost their lives in the three years of construction. The bridge was formally dedicated on Saturday, Dec. 2, 1961. Mayor Lawrence Hagen of Superior, E. Clifford Mork, Duluth Mayor. It was formally named to honor John A. Blatnik Sept. 24, 1971. To the right is a hotel called Comfort Suites at 408 Canal Park Drive. Street names were changed. South First Avenue East became Canal Park Drive. Harbor Drive was South Fifth Ave West. The first section, a half-mile, of the Downtown Lakewalk was completed in 1988 from the ship canal to the corner of the lake. By 1994 it extended four miles east.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Roster photograph of D.M. & I.R. Business car "Northland" at Duluth, Minnesota. Viewed from the front end, coupled. Enger tower is in the far background.
View from out in the Lake beyond the canal toward the canal's piers, lighthouses or light structures. There are small pleasure craft in Lake Superior. The South Pier is at the left, the North Pier is at the right. People are watching from the piers. The Paulucci building is at the right in the background. This may or may not be a foggy moment. Duluth can get foggy is a few minutes. It is one of the many Lake effects. We can also experience a 10, 20, even 30 degree temperature swing if you are down by the Lake or up over the hill.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Duluth harbor is frozen over and snow covered, but the lake is still open. It is very rare for Lake Superior to freeze fully. Which ever way the wind blows the lake ice shifts. Lake ice piles up on Minnesota Point or moves out into the lake or onto the northeast segments of shore. It changes every minute. This is a terrific view of the shape of Canal Park in the foreground and the Point as it extends toward Wisconsin. The U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center is at the corner of Thirteenth Street and Minnesota Avenue on the Point. Thirteenth is where the road, Minnesota Avenue, jogs to the right. The structure at the right is the Arena Auditorium (will be added to and renamed the DECC in 1987) and Pioneer Hall. The feature in the harbor off of Minnesota Point is the snow covered Hearding Island. The skywalk from downtown Duluth to the arena through Pioneer Hall is known as the "Northwest Passage."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Northern City National Bank's NC sign was placed on top of the Alworth building in 1957 where the bank occupied the Alworth's main floor. The sign was permanently removed in 1980 when a bank merger resulted in the new First Bank. The Alworth is Duluth's tallest downtown building at 16 stories. Minnesota Point extends into the distance. The Arena Auditorium is in the middle of this photograph on the edge of the harbor. Later, the street behind the complex will be renamed Harbor Drive. The Arena Auditorium itself will be expanded and renamed the DECC in 1987. Canal Park, at the far left, is still occupied by industrial businesses in this image. It will not begin to transition to the tourist destination we know it as today until Grandma's Restaurant opens there in a rehabilitated building in 1976. The seven-story Ordean Building is next to the Fifth Avenue West Overpass. The Ordean was built in 1973 and occupies the site of the Spalding Hotel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A band is playing on the steps of the Federal Building in the Civic Center. The Federal Building is at the right, the St. Louis County Courthouse is behind you and a little to the left. Duluth's City Hall is not visible, but is at the far left, facing the Federal Building. The cylindrical building is the Radisson Hotel. The Arena Auditorium is just in front of the Aerial Bridge. The span is up: a vessel is either outbound or inbound. Cars and pedestrians on either side of the bridge must wait. They are being "bridged" or stopped by the vessel traffic. On the other side of the tree and the child on the bicycle is the civic center pool and fountain.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This view from Skyline Drive over the central business district of Duluth showing the curve of Minnesota Point is what this woman and two children see. People tend to get out of their cars to enjoy the wide view from Skyline. The Aerial Bridge has already lowered as the ore boat that passed under it now glides into the harbor. Northern Drug Company, or L. W. Leithhead Drug in earlier years, is the multistory building next to the new Fifth Avenue West curving road. The Flame Restaurant and sign are visible on the harbor shore at the tip of the ore boat between the Duluth Arena Auditorium (now called the DECC - Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center) and the circular Radisson Hotel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Great Lakes ore boat, Presque Isle, being assisted to D.M. & I.R. Dock 2 in Two Harbors by the tug Edna G. The Presque Isle is covered with ice. There are loaded ore cars atop Dock 2
Passenger depot at 606-612 on the lower side of West Superior Street was designed by C. E. Bell, Tyrie and Chapman of Minneapolis. It opened in early October 1910 and closed in the mid-1960s
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Northern City National Bank's NC sign was placed on top of the Alworth building in 1957 where the bank occupied the Alworth's main floor. The sign was permanently removed in 1980 when a bank merger resulted in the new First Bank. The Alworth is Duluth's tallest downtown building at 16 stories. The round or cylindrical building at the right is the Radisson Hotel built in 1970 with an addition in 1975. The top floor of the Radisson holds the Top of the Harbor restaurant that turns 360 degrees while you dine. The Aerial Bridge's lift span is up because an ore boat it about to exit the harbor. Minnesota Point extends into the distance, with Hearding Island to its right in the harbor. Hearding Island is the uninhabited site called Bird Island by Part Point residents and Harbor Island by Duluth Bird Club members. In December 1962, the St. Louis County Historical Society, supported by the Park Point Community Club, petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (Dept. of the Interior) to use the name Hearding Island on all official and Federal maps designating an island in the Superior Bay portion of the harbor parallel to Minnesota Point from 20-24th Street, Duluth, Minnesota. The Duluth City Council officially named it Hearding Island for local use July 1962, ordinance No. 7323. The name Hearding Island is for William Hellins Hearding (1826-1893) who surveyed the Duluth-Superior harbor in 1861 as assigned by Capt. (later general Civil War) George C. Meade.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
You are overlooking part of Duluth's business district from the hillside. The bridge's lift span is up as an ore boat is approaching the canal to exit the harbor. The tallest blond buildings are the Alworth at the left (built in 1909) and the Medical Arts (1932) to its right. The Arena Auditorium complex (renamed the DECC in 1987) is nearer to the aerial lift bridge in front of the ore boat. At the far left is Canal Park. The tall building is the DeWitt-Seitz, currently full of shops, restaurants, businesses and meeting rooms. The DeWitt-Seitz Co., whose plant, factory, warehouse and offices were at 390 South Lake Avenue was one of Duluth's prosperous industries. The company, organized in 1905 by Henry F. Seitz and C. E. De Witt, manufactured all grades of mattresses and box springs, and the wholesale and jobbing of furniture and floor coverings. The DeWitt-Seitz best grade mattress and box spring, known as the Sanomade and carrying the slogan "Remember the Name, the Rest is Easy," was used and advertised all over the country. Its wholesale furniture and jobbing business covered Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Michigan, North Dakota and parts of South Dakota and Montana. Including salesmen, the company employed a total of 60 persons in its nine story building that still stands as the De Witt-Seitz Market Place. In 1930, it employed "more than 40 persons" and had a payroll of $100,000. F. S. Kelly Furniture Co. bought the furniture stock of the company in June 1961. DeWitt-Seitz continued manufacturing mattresses and reorganized the firm, but the mattress company was sold in 1962.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
At the far left you can see the tall DeWitt-Seitz Mattress Company building in Canal Park, whose plant, factory, warehouse and offices were at 390 South Lake Avenue was one of Duluth's prosperous industries. The company organized in 1905 by Henry F. Seitz and C. E. DeWitt, and manufactured all grades of mattresses and box springs, and the wholesale and jobbing of furniture and floor coverings. The DeWitt-Seitz best grade mattress and box spring, known as the Sanomade and carried the slogan "Remember the Name, the Rest is Easy," was used and advertised all over the country. Its wholesale furniture and jobbing business covered Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Michigan, North Dakota and parts of South Dakota and Montana. Including salesmen, the company employed a total of 60 persons in its nine story building that still stands as the DeWitt-Seitz Market Place in Canal Park. In 1930, it employed "more than 40 persons" and had a payroll of $100,000. F. S. Kelly Furniture Company bought the furniture stock of DeWitt-Seitz in June 1961. De Witt-Seitz continued manufacturing mattresses and reorganized the firm, but the mattress company was sold in 1962. The Fifth Avenue West overpass is at the far right. Downtown is between with the Arena Auditorium on the harbor waterfront in the middle of the image.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections