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
View from Second Avenue West of the rubble that was the Glass Block store at 128 West Superior Street. The four floor retail giant in downtown Duluth had dozens of departments. It was located at this location from 1893. The store opened in 1887 at Panton and Watson.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Looking east from West Superior Street of the rubble that was the Glass Block store at 128 West Superior Street. The four floor retail giant in downtown Duluth had dozens of departments. It was located at this location from 1893. The store opened in 1887 at Panton and Watson.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View from West Michgan Street of the rubble that was the Glass Block store at 128 West Superior Street. The four floor retail giant in downtown Duluth had dozens of departments. It was located at this location from 1893. The store opened in 1887 at Panton and Watson.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lower side of West Superior Street of signs for downtown businesses Ace Hardware 212 West Superior Street, Jensens Shoes at 208 West Superior Street with the Endion Station Art Gallery above and Bud's Clothing at 206 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Cornice and upper floors of Minnesota Surplus store and Mr. Nick's hamburgers, in the old Duluth Herald newspaper building, and Livingston's Big Duluth men's clothing store, on the lower side of West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Cornice and upper floors of Minnesota Surplus store and Mr. Nick's hamburgers, in the old Duluth Herald newspaper building, on the lower side of West Superior Street.
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
An aerial view showing a two-toned car at the bottom left on Superior street and the Lyric Theater above the car. The Lyric block was razed in 1976 to make way for the Holiday Center.
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
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
Julius Howland Barnes founded Klearflax Linen Looms, Incorporated, and was president of the board. This was the manufacturing plant at 63 Avenue West and Grand. Barnes sought a way to utilize flax straw, then largely burned in Minnesota fields were it was produced. Initially he planned to make toweling, but that proved unworkable. Flax made a durable and artistic rug. In 1933, only 60 people were employed in the mill. They diversified, and 200 were employed with a payroll of $30,000 a month. The plant used no coal, but was steam heated using waste products from raw materials. Looms were invented to accommodate the flax material after it had been cleaned, steamed, dried, combed and carded, and spun into yarn. The company also utilized wool and cotton. The company gained national prominence when it began to advertise in magazines like Vogue, Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal. One rug was in the main entry of New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel and showed little wear after an estimated 10 million people had walked across it. Another was made in 1939, weighing a half-ton, cost $300,000, was 15x30 feet, of special design, for the Finnish capital at Helsinki. Barnes sold the company to Romos enterprises of Ohio in April 1953.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Duluth Herald and the Duluth News Tribune grew out of the early newspapers. This is the current home of the Duluth News Tribunes' staff and production at 422-424 West First Street in downtown Duluth. At the time of its construction and opening, both the evening Duluth Herald and the morning News Tribune were published at this site. They merged in 1984.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This local business at 4702 Grand Avenue began as Diamond Calk Horse Shoe in 1907 by Otto Swanstrom the inventor of the "diamond calks" in 1900. The plant was sold in the 1980s. In 1994, the last workers vacated. The building was razed in 1996.
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
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
The four story structure was occupied by the Coolerator Company after 1935. The Coolerator Company began in 1908 as the Duluth Show Case Company. Its name changed to Duluth Refrigerator Company in 1928, and to the Coolerator Company in 1934. It was a subsidiary of the Marshall-Wells Building Corporation.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections