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
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
View of a lake vessel entering the Duluth harbor under the Aerial Lift Bridge loaded with new cars and trucks. This style of street lamp on the piers was replaced in 1955. During the shipping season the bridge makes about 25 lifts a day. The Aerial Lift Bridge was first operated on March 19, 1930. It was remodeled from the side to side moving transporter or gondola to feature a lift span.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A Pittsburgh Steamship Division vessel is just about to move under the lift span of the bridge. If the crew looks toward the hillside it will see Minnesota Slip, Industrial Slip, remnants of the North Western Fuel Company coal dock, Northern Pacific Railroad docks 5 and 6, the site of Fifth Avenue West and Commerce Street that once was the bustling warehouse district and includes the Lakes Transit Company, F.A. Patrick building, Northern Drug wholesale building, and the electric company power station. The Flame Restaurant is the light rectangular building near the water's edge. Remnants of the Whitney Brothers rock crushing business are at the far right in the lake.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The small red building is an office for the Great Lakes Towing Company. Organized on July 7, 1899, in Cleveland, the Great Lakes Towing Company was founded by prominent Great Lakes ship owners. Great Lakes Towing Company is the largest U.S. tugboat company on the lakes and has been operating in the Duluth-Superior harbor since 1900.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This view from Skyline Drive shows the buildings of downtown Duluth and Canal Park (left). Minnesota Point stretches beyond the Aerial Lift Bridge. In the foreground, the roadway formerly known as Rogers Boulevard, Skyline Parkway stretches 25 miles from Becks Road east to the Lester River, ending at Lake Superior. Skyline Parkway was designated as a State Scenic Byway in 1998.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of Downtown Duluth from Fourth Avenue West including the Duluth Harbor, Aerial Lift Bridge, Minnesota Point, and Lake Superior. Duluth City Hall and the St. Louis County Courthouse and jail are visible in the center right. Just below the Lift Bridge are the tall Alworth building and the wider Medical Arts building, both on the lower side of Superior Street. Along the waterfront are Minnesota Slip, Industrial Slip, the North Western Fuel Company coal dock, to the right is the Northern Cold Storage Building, 702 West Railroad Street. A number of lake vessels are grouped together in the center of the harbor.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This view stretches from Harbor View Homes at Lake Avenue and Eleventh street at the bottom of the photograph to Canal Park and then Minnesota Point lying beyond the Aerial Bridge at the left. At the far right are grain elevators in the Duluth harbor.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Skyline Parkway began in 1888 as Terrace Parkway or Rogers Boulevard. It was extended under Mayor Samuel F. Snively. Today, Skyline Parkway Drive stretches about 27 miles. In December 1959 the Duluth City Council and Mayor E. Clifford Bork changed the name of Rogers parkway and Skyline Boulevard to Skyline Parkway. The smokestack at the far left is part of the Duluth steam plant. It heats hundreds of downtown buildings. To the left of the smokestack is Hotel Duluth, which opened to great fanfare on May 21, 1925. Hotel Duluth became senior housing and was renamed Greysolon Plaza in October 1981.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Duluth harbor looking at the waterfront, the hillside beyond and the Canal Park area abutting the bridge. At the left on the waterfront are warehouse district buildings and remaining North Western Fuel Company coal docks before you reach slips and Canal Park businesses. At the center of the image is a light building, Hotel Duluth, at Superior Street and Third Avenue East that opened in May 1925. The bay side view of Minnesota Point is at the right with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers vessel yard facility.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The businesses and housing of the East End are visible in this wide view facing west. Superior Street, East First Street and East Second Street run diagonally from left to right in the lower right quadrant of the image. In the distance beyond the Lift Bridge is Rice's point.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The businesses and housing of the East End are visible in this wide view facing west. Superior Street, East First Street and East Second Street run diagonally from left to right in the lower half of the image.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Aerial view from the southwest, showing the rectory and school buildings. Taken before construction of Interstate 94, so shows homes and businesses in surrounding neighborhood.
Portrait of American Legion Officers, Butch Dalby, Dr Ouimette, Don Saboe, at podium of American Legion, located at 118 Railroad Avenue NE, Mora, Minnesota.
The vested Basilica Boys' Choir stands and sings carols before the 5:00 a.m. Mass on Christmas morning. Choir director and organist George Bussman plays a small portable organ just outside the sacristy rail. Boys pictured include: Tommy Hendricks, Martin Strong, Tom Bennett, Danny Stone, and Laird Miller.
Children get on and off the Minneapolis Public Library bookmobile in May 1954. The Minneapolis Public Library was originally founded in 1885 and grew to include a Central Library and fourteen branches. In 2008 the library was merged into the Hennepin County Library system.
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library
Two Minneapolis Public Library bookmobiles are parked in front of First Baptist Church in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota while a worker loades delivery boxes. A note on the back reads, "The main library does all the ordering, cataloging and binding for the branches and stations; it maintains a central registration bureau; it houses the resevoir collection for all extension agencies; it holds the headquarters offices of the administrative and supervisory offices. Any addition to the system places a strain on the main building. Because of the lack of loading area Bookmobiles must be loaded for their trips on the public curb, after a long trek from the thrid floor headquarters of the Bookmobile service."
Contributing Institution:
Hennepin County Library, James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library