The Duluth Boat Club was organized July 10, 1886. The original building was built in 1891 at the foot of Seventh Avenue West and the bay front. This, the second facility, was built in 1906 at 1000 Minnesota Avenue on the harbor side. This was a social center of Duluth but you did have to buy a membership. It had nearly 200 rowboats, canoes, and a flotilla of sailboats. Duluth rowers won 20 national championships between 1911 and 1923, as well as hosting the national races in 1916. The club dissolved in 1926 due to flagging interest and debt.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Spectators watch log rollers in the bay. The Duluth Boat Club was organized July 10, 1886. The original building was built in 1891 at the foot of Seventh Avenue West and the bay front. This, the second facility, was built in 1906 at 1000 Minnesota Avenue on the harbor side. This was a social center of Duluth but you did have to buy a membership. It had nearly 200 rowboats, canoes, and a flotilla of sailboats. Duluth rowers won 20 national championships between 1911 and 1923, as well as hosting the national races in 1916. The club dissolved in 1926 due to flagging interest and debt.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Passenger steamer North American of the Georgian Bay Line is steaming out of Duluth harbor leaving Duluth. There were many passenger ships and companies used similar names. This vessel had a partner named the South American; both were built in 1913. The Great Lakes is one of the oldest, yet one of the newest cruise destinations. Cruises were being taken as early as 1842, yet the industry had almost disappeared 100 years later. Railroads bought and built steamship lines to compliment railroad services. Some activity continued into the 1960s, but following the departure of the South American in 1966, cruising effectively ceased for thirty years. Houses on Minnesota Point are at the left. The Aerial Bridge gondola or basket transporter is visible behind the stern. These lamp posts on the piers remained until about 1955. This is a print made from a broken glass plate negative: the bottom right corner is missing (black). The photographer's negative number is cut off, only the beginning of his name shows "McK."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Every student in Duluth learned about the aerial bridge from family or teachers. This table-top model in clay is typical in demonstrating how central to children and families the structure and impact of the bridge was and is to residents of Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Every student in Duluth learned about the Aerial Bridge from family or teachers. This table-top model in clay is typical in demonstrating how central to children and families the structure and impact of the bridge was and is to residents of Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Hillside housing stock built with a rock outcrop in the backyard; A Master Bread billboard is at the top of the image. The Zinsmaster family opened a bakery called Zinsmaster Hol-Ry Company in Duluth in 1931. Master Bread was one of their brands. The structure that looks like it is framed by the Aerial Lift Bridge is the Huron Portland Cement silo that later became LaFarge Cement. It still stands on the Duluth waterfront. The white trimmed brick structure at the top right is 1515 West Superior Street, the Duluth Gospel Tabernacle building. The building to the right but further east on Superior Street with the arched window is a Minnesota Power station and garage at about Fourteenth Avenue West and Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Chicago Shipbuilding Company of Chicago, a subsidiary of the American Shipbuilding Company, built the steamer William E. Cory for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company in 1904. The vessel dimensions are 569' X 56' X 31'. She sailed from Chicago on her maiden voyage August 12, 1905 bound for Duluth to load iron ore. The aerial bridge was new. Bids were opened March 25, 1901, but only one was received. The Duluth Canal Bridge Company was awarded the contract but abandoned the work. In February 1904, the Modern Steel Structural Company of Waukesha, Wisconsin was issued a contract. Work began July 20, 1904. On February 23, 1905, with local dignitaries at hand, the bridge was first operated. Regular service began the next day according to newspaper accounts. The city engineer's report for 1905 stated that the bridge was "completed and commenced operation on May 5, 1905, and a few problems were corrected in running the bridge over the next few days." The Aerial bridge was completed in February 1905. The aerial bridge transporter or gondola or transfer car roadway was 17 feet by 50 feet with sidewalks seven feet by 50 feet, the cabins were 30 feet long. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office building with flag above it was built in 1906. Also visible in the image are the National Biscuit Company 517 Lake Avenue South, Blanchet Hotel 520 Lake Avenue South, and Wieland Flats 502-512 St. Croix Avenue
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
139-D The caption of this post card says The unique Aerial Lift Bridge and Ship Canal Entrance to Duluth-Superior Harbor is an outstanding attraction of this popular summer vacation city. Total bridge load lifted is 900 tons. Only 55 seconds are required to lift the span 135 feet. The Harbor is second only to that of New York City in shipping tonnage and through it passes about 60 per cent of America's iron ore production, from the great iron ore ranges just north of Duluth. Another fact, not included in the caption is that John H. Darling (1847-1942), U.S. Engineer for Duluth-Superior Harbor, oversaw replacement of the original wooden canal piers with concrete piers in 1897. The piers have been maintained and repaired with a major remodeling/rehabilitation in 1985-1986.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The caption for this post card says The famous Aerial Lift Bridge, at the entrance to the Duluth -Superior harbor, is the largest of its kind in the world. The 900-ton span, lifted by electrical energy stored in batteries, rises 120 feet in 50 seconds each time a boat approaches the harbor.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
An ore boat is steaming through the canal into Duluth harbor. The canal was cut beginning in 1871, and this bridge was built in 1904-1905 and modified with the lift span (which is up in this photo) in 1929. Canal Park is to the right of the Aerial Lift Bridge. Today a tourist destination, Canal Park was originally an industrial site. In this photograph Canal Park is in transition. You can see some demolition as well as some new parking facilities very near the pier including green space for residents and tourists to get near the vessel traffic and the bridge. The Aerial Lift Bridge is the largest tourist draw in Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The parallel concrete piers jut out into the lake forming the canal leading to the harbor. Since its remodeling into a lift bridge in 1930, every vessel passes under the Aerial Lift Bridge's raised span. In this view the span is down, and traffic and people cross it as a roadbed. The South Pier is at the left, the North Pier is at the right. Minnesota Point's light sand beach draws residents and tourists in all seasons but especially throughout the summer months. The expanse of the slips and wharves of the harbor indicate an industrial scene. You can see the light road that is Skyline Parkway parallel to the horizon running the length of Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The parallel concrete piers jut out into the lake forming the canal leading to the harbor. Since its remodeling into a lift bridge in 1930, every vessel passes under the Aerial Lift Bridge's raised span. In this view the span is down, and traffic and people cross it as a roadbed. The South Pier is at the left, the North Pier is at the right. Minnesota Point's light sand beach draws residents and tourists in all seasons but especially throughout the summer months. The harbor is still the location of warehouses and coal docks. You can see the light road that is Skyline Parkway parallel to the horizon running the length of Duluth. The Civic Center is at the center of this shot. The St. Louis County Courthouse is in the middle with the Federal Building to the left of the courthouse, City Hall to the right, and the St. Louis County Jail to the left and set back from the courthouse. The Civic Center was designed by Daniel Burnham and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Duluth Missabe and Iron Range ore docks are the two reddish brown linear structures in the foreground. Ore boats are pulled between the docks by tugboats. Railroad cars loaded with ore or taconite pellets move along the railroad tracks on the top or the length of the dock. A chute or steel pocket beneath the tracks is lowered to the open cargo hatch and a door at the bottom of the pocket opens, allowing the pellets to run into the ore boat that moored parallel to the dock. Four hours is typical for loading ore. Loading is the responsibility of the First Mate. It is important to load the ore in a proper sequence to avoid over stressing the boat unevenly. Each chute (or drop of pellets) is about 20 tons.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The lift span is up as an ore boat of the Cleveland-Cliffs fleet approaches the canal. Pioneer Hall and the Northwest Passage skywalk link to downtown are complete. Gateway Towers and Lenox Place apartment high-rises and the new Duluth Public Library are visible. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, formerly called the Marine Museum, opened in 1973 and is seen near the north pier with Grandma's Saloon restaurant and its summertime tent visible marking the first two amenities of Canal Park that would develop into a tourist destination.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of Duluth's hillside from just shy of Sixth Avenue West on the left and Fourteenth Avenue East on the far right half-way up the edge. Houses in the Kenwood neighborhood are clustered at the far right. To the left of Kenwood is the College of St. Scholastica with dominant Tower Hall. Drop straight down from the college to the Peace Church built in 1959. The airbase housing cluster called Capehart on Arrowhead Road that was later sold and developed into Aspenwood Condominiums is beyond the college with the Cook Home at the top middle of the photograph.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Looking toward the North Shore this aerial view shows the Duluth Arena Auditorium on the lower left. The Arena Auditorium opened in August 1966 and was renamed the DECC or Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in 1987. Just below the Arena Auditorium is the building that housed the Flame Restaurant. Located at 353 South Fifth Avenue West, the Flame opened in 1930 and closed on January 3, 1973. The water of Minnesota Slip is visible between Canal Park and the Arena-Auditorium. Off the shore of Canal Park in Lake Superior are the remnants of the Whitney rock crushing enterprise, visible here as a small brown rectangle. The Whitney Brothers, of Superior, Wisconsin, had a sand and gravel processing business that was functioning in 1919. The concrete form that is still in the water was the dredging/crushing building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This image shows Canal Park toward the end of its light industrial era. At the bottom center of the image, between First Avenue East and Lake Avenue, at 438 Lake Avenue South, is the Northwestern Iron and Metal Company scrap yard. The newly constructed Marine Museum (now the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center) is visible below the canal; its grand opening was on September 29, 1973. Also visible in Canal Park are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers building (1906), next to the Marine Museum, the Sand Bar, 522 Lake Avenue South, and the home of Jeno's Incorporated, 525 Lake Avenue South, now known as the Paulucci Building. In the upper right corner of the image, on Minnesota Point is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessel yard. An excursion boat in the canal approaches the harbor.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This aerial view is one of many taken by Wayne Gatlin. Canal Park (under the jet) is in its transformative stage moving from a light industrial site to a tourist destination. Grandma's Saloon and Grill has its striped canvas tent up with the ice cream railroad car in place. The double-decker red bus is at the intersection of Morse and South First Avenue East or Canal Park Drive. The first segment of the Lakewalk will be built in 1988. Duluth-born Mr. Gatlin enlisted in the aviation cadet program in 1942. Later he flew 55 combat missions for the 360th Fighter Group in England and downed an ME-262 jet fighter. In 1948 he joined the Texas Air National Guard but eventually transferred to Duluth, where he became operations officer for the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Gatlin flew jet fighters while stationed at Duluth during the Korean War. He was the high individual scorer at the 1954, 1955 and 1956 National Air Guard gunnery meets. Gatlin served as commander of the Air Technician Detachment at Duluth, wing commander, group commander and finally chief of staff for the Minnesota Air National Guard. He logged over 6,700 military flying hours during his career. Gatlin studied photography over the years and his marvelous portraits of Guard aircraft have appeared in many publications and journals.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Duluth Arena Auditorium is at the center of this image, above and to the right of the Arena are the grain elevators on Rice's Point, and the John A. Blatnik Bridge connecting Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin. Built in 1961, the High Bridge was renamed for Congressman John A. Blatnik in 1971. Blatnik (1911-1991) was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1940, he was a representative to the U.S. Congress for Minnesota's Eight District from 1947-1974. The U-shaped building at the lower left is the Hotel Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This image shows a view from about Ninth Avenue West and waterfront at the top right corner of the shot to First Avenue East and Second Street at the lower left corner of the shot. Duluth Terminal and Cold Storage Company is at Ninth Avenue West and Railroad Street or 400 South Ninth Avenue West. The 1892 Central High School and its clock tower occupy the block on Second Street between Lake Avenue and First Avenue East in the foreground. The Canal Park area and the waterfront warehouse districts are still very industrial. The arena auditorium will not open until August 1966, in the area still filled with scrap in the middle-top of this photograph. Railroad and Commerce streets run parallel to the hillside below Superior Street and the area is well described by their names.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This aerial view is one of many taken by Wayne Gatlin. The shape of Minnesota Point and the harbor are clear. Duluth-born Mr. Gatlin enlisted in the aviation cadet program in 1942. Later he flew 55 combat missions for the 360th Fighter Group in England and downed an ME-262 jet fighter. In 1948, he joined the Texas Air National Guard but eventually transferred to Duluth, where he became operations officer for the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Gatlin flew jet fighters while stationed at Duluth during the Korean War. He was the high individual scorer at the 1954, 1955 and 1956 National Air Guard gunnery meets. Gatlin served as commander of the Air Technician Detachment at Duluth, wing commander, group commander and finally chief of staff for the Minnesota Air National Guard. He logged over 6,700 military flying hours during his career. Gatlin studied photography over the years and his marvelous portraits of Guard aircraft have appeared in many publications and journals.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This aerial view faces downtown Duluth, incorporating the near end of Minnesota Point and Canal Park. Minnesota Slip runs straight up through the center of the image, between Canal Park and the Duluth Arena Auditorium, and a Coast Guard cutter is docked in front of the Arena. Minnesota Slip is where the 600-foot long William A. Irvin ore boat museum will lay beginning in July 1986. The hillside rises up behind downtown, with Mesaba Avenue running diagonally up the left side of the hill. The rectangle and three dots parallel to the piers of the canal are the remnants of the Whitney Brothers rock crushing enterprise. The lift span of the bridge is up as a ship moves out of the harbor. At the center in the bottom portion of the image is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Duluth Vessel Yard at Ninth Street and Minnesota Avenue that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1995. It was a maintenance, storage, mooring facility established in 1904, supporting dredging and maintenance of the Duluth shipping harbor.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections