On Monday, July 1, 1929, the suspended car made its last trip across the canal. The bridge's modification to operate with a lift span began on April 8, 1929, with a low bid of $448,000 by the Kansas City Bridge Company. The Aerial Lift Bridge was first operated on March 19, 1930. The bridge has a clearance of 138 feet when the lift section is completely up and when down it is 16.5 feet above the water. The length of the span is 386 feet and weighs 900 tons. The distance from the water to the lower edge of the truss is 172 feet 7 inches; to the top of the truss it is 227 feet. During the shipping season it makes about 25 lifts a day. The new bridge is owned and operated by the City of Duluth on permit authorized by Congress. The Ship Canal and grounds are under the authority of the Lake Superior Area Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This view shows Canal Park in the right foreground and downtown Duluth behind. The railroad tracks are parallel to Superior Street and will be displaced by the I35 freeway. The flat, undeveloped areas west or to the left of the Arena-Auditorium will later become the site for Playfront Park, Bayfront Festival Park, and the Great Lakes Aquarium. In this photo, Canal Park's recent addition is the 1973 Marine Museum adjacent to the 1906 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Building. Both are near the base of the North tower of the aerial lift bridge. In the middle of this view is the Arena Auditorium (opened in 1966) that will later to added to and renamed the DECC in 1987. To its right is the rectangular Pioneer Hall. Ground was broken on April 7, 1975, for the Pioneer Hall and Duluth Curling Club. It is a world-class curling facility. The Silver Broom World Curling Tournament in March 1976, drew 41,000 fans from ten countries to the new ice sheets. Grand opening celebrations were held August 30 to September 12, 1976. The Northwest Passage, a skywalk from downtown to the Arena-Auditorium through the Pioneer Hall, will be completed in 1976.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The area west of the Arena Auditorium occupied here by hundreds of parked RVs will be developed into Bay Front Park. In the summer of 1983, an Airstream rally occupied all of the Arena Auditorium parking lot and the area seen here taken by RVs. The dark rectangular building near the stern of the ore boat is the Flame Restaurant building. The slip at the far right will be filled. In the foreground the I35 freeway is under construction and building materials laid out to the right. the Ship Canal piers were being remodeled/rehabilitated in 1985-1986.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The counterweight is visible through the north tower's structural elements. Two counterweights move in opposition to the bridge. The bridge span weights about 1,000 tons. The two counterweights weigh about 500 tons each. When the bridge span goes up the counterweights go down.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
These railroad tracks are parallel to Lake Superior which is not visible at the far right. Superior Street is at the far left with an edge of the brick Minnesota Power electric company's substation building showing at Fifteenth Avenue West. Superwood Corporation hardboard manufacturers is at the right and appears to be in front of the Huron Portland Cement silos. Garfield is at about Sixteenth Avenue West behind you at you look at this shot. Superwood is at Fourteenth Avenue West and Waterfront and the Huron Portland cement silo at Ninth Avenue West and waterfront.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A night view shows the Duluth Arena Auditorium and parking facilities. The Minnesota Power and Light substation is in the foreground. There is a lighted Christmas tree surrounded by a car display at the joint entrance to the complex. The Arena Auditorium opened to great fanfare in August 1966. The arena was home to UMD hockey and seats for 8,000, and the Duluth Symphony finally had a grand hall for its performances and sat 2,400. It was renamed the DECC or Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on August 31, 1987. It was expanded and re-opened June 18, 1990. The Harbor Side Convention Center and Parking Ramp additions were opened January 31, 2001.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A vessel enters the harbor in this view of the canal with downtown Duluth in the upper portion of the image and Minnesota Point at the bottom left. Fifth Avenue West runs directly from the St. Louis County Courthouse to the waterfront. Both the Soo Line passenger depot and its train sheds and the Union Depot and its train sheds are to the left of Fifth Avenue West. To the right of the Fifth Avenue West overpass is the Arena Auditorium complex that celebrated its grand opening in August 1966. The sand beach of Park Point is in the foreground. The Fire department headquarters building is at 608 West First Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Pioneer Hall will take form on this construction site adjacent to Minnesota Slip. Ground was broken on April 7, 1975, for the Pioneer Hall and Duluth Curling Club. The Silver Broom World Curling Tournament in March 1976, drew 41,000 fans from ten countries to the new ice sheets. Grand opening celebrations were held August 30 to September 12, 1976. The Northwest Passage, a skywalk from downtown to the Arena Auditorium, was completed in 1976. Eight years after the Arena Auditorium was opened in 1966, it was pumping $6 million into Duluth's economy. The annual payroll averaged $300,000 and more than 750 people were employed on either a part or full-time basis. The Pioneer Hall expansion was the first of many.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
On the morning of May 3, 1959, crowds along the north pier of the Duluth Ship Canal salute the arrival of the British-registered merchant vessel Ramon de Larrinaga, the first upbound ship to traverse the newly opened St. Lawrence Seaway. The ship loaded grain at the Peavey and Cargill elevators before departing for Montreal and a voyage across the North Atlantic.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
When it gets very cold and the water of Lake Superior is warmer than the air, the lake "smokes" as seen here. The smokestack at the left is the Duluth Steam Plant that provides heat to hundreds of downtown businesses. The Duluth business district's tallest building is the Alworth shown here just in front of the Aerial Lift Bridge. The 16 story Daniel Burnham designed Alworth was built in 1909 in nine months opening August 30, 1910. Pioneer Hall is behind the Alworth. Ground was broken on April 7, 1975 for the Pioneer Hall and Duluth Curling Club. The Silver Broom World Curling Tournament in March 1976, drew 41,000 fans from ten countries to the new ice sheets in Pioneer Hall.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Looking down Fourth Avenue West from Fourth Street in downtown Duluth. The 16-story Alworth building constructed in a record nine months in 1909-1910 is the tall building at the left. It is at 306 West Superior Street. The 1932 built Medical Arts building is in the middle of the photograph at 324 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View shows Commerce Street in the foreground and Minnesota Point and its sandy beach to the right of the bridge. At the top left, Canal Park businesses and industries fit between Minnesota Slip and Lake Superior. Two cars are crossing the bridge. Ground was broken December 19, 1963 for the Duluth Arena Auditorium. The Arena Auditorium complex opened to great fanfare in August 1966. UMD hockey was played at the arena which, seating 8,000, was also the site of performances of entertainers and rock concerts. The Auditorium was home to the symphony, opera, ballet, and artists like Marcel Marceau. It was renamed the DECC or Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on August 31, 1987. It was expanded and re-opened June 18, 1990. The Harbor Side Convention Center and Parking Ramp additions were opened January 31, 2001. At the far right are businesses removed for the Fifth Avenue West Overpass, and later, the Great Lakes Aquarium and Bayfront Festival Park.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View from the top of the Aerial Lift Bridge looking over Canal Park toward Duluth's hillside taking in a vista to Leif Erikson Park. Pedestrians could ride on the lift span of the Aerial Bridge for a short time in the late 1960s for fifty cents. There was an enclosure to stand within. In 1966, the City Council approved a resolution to permit club members to have free rides on the bridge during 1966 and 1967. To be a club member you had to contribute at least one dollar to the fund to floodlight the bridge. Contributors received a membership card. Between September 13 and 16 the fund gained three thousand dollars. The cost to floodlight was twenty-one thousand dollars. The floodlights were first lit on November 17, 1966. Minnesota's U.S. Representative John A. Blatnik pulled the switch to light the bridge. Chief bridge operator Alfred L. Hass said in 1960 that the longest the bridge remained open (span up) was an hour and 27 minutes one night in 1937 when a fog on the lake lifted and 13 ships entered and departed in quick succession. The greatest number of ships to pass under the span in one day was 80, requiring 36 lifts, on April 19, 1937. The building in the shadow of the bridge is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Building constructed in 1906. The new bridge is owned and operated by the City of Duluth on permit authorized by Congress. The Ship Canal and grounds are under the authority of the Lake Superior Area Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lake Avenue is perpendicular to Superior Street in downtown Duluth. Lake Avenue runs up and down the hillside. In Duluth, you are either directed "up the hill" or "down the hill", "away from the Lake" or "toward the Lake." Lake Superior is the primary fixture we orient people to. Lake Avenue is the road that leads you to the Aerial Lift Bridge. When you have crossed the bridge you are on South Lake Avenue on Minnesota Point. The businesses on South Lake Avenue in Canal Park are the businesses "below" Superior Street en route to the Bridge. Many of the buildings on South Lake Avenue are original frame or brick and stone buildings dating from the 1870s and 1880s. The little frame building at the right in the foreground of this photograph is 241-243 South Lake Avenue, the Standard Salt and Cement Company. Across the avenue is General Electric Supply Company at 244-246 South Lake Avenue. The board walk is still functioning. The Coast-to-Coast Stores bought the Duluth division of Marshall-Wells-Kelley How-Thomson Company in 1958, which ended the Duluth Marshall-Wells hardware firm's operation. The sign is not fibbing, Marshall-Wells was in fact the world's largest wholesale hardware company.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A aerial photographic map of Mora Minnesota showing the potential growth area, pointing out several different streets, Highways, the Fair Grounds, and the Central Business Area.
The circular plaza feature of the Duluth Public Library is at the left of the open site where the building will stand. On Michigan Street is the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center and the 1977 Depot Theater at the far right. The Flame restaurant is at the top left.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Aerial view of Main Street facing northeast. Photograph taken from Schumachers. Businesses identified include Hadac Market in the red building and City Club Bar.
Aerial view looking north. North south road in photograph is Columbus Avenue. In the center of photo is Saint Wenceslaus School and Saint Wenceslaus Church. On the lower right side is the eighth hole of the New Prague Golf Course. Written on the back of photograph is 'Chuck from Sharkey's plane.'
Image shows an aerial view of city of New Prague facing northwest. On the upper left of the image is the New Prague Mill, the center of the photograph shows the mill pond, and on the lower right is Saint Wenceslaus church.
Aerial view of downtown Minneapolis from the roof of the Hennepin County Government Center facing east. The Minneapolis Armory is at lower left; Hennepin County Medical Center is near center; the Sexton Building is at lower right.