After exploring the lake side of Duluth yesterday, we headed to its historic district via the canal walk.
We thought it would be fun to explore Duluth's climate-controlled skywalk system (1977). The system was built to help people escape sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow during Lake Superior winters. In addition, the town's steep, volcanic ridge layout created difficult walking conditions on ground-level streets, making an indoor second story practical. Over the decades, the weatherproof network expanded to roughly 3.5 miles, linking more than 30 city blocks, hotels, office towers, parking ramps, and the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (where we started).When we found the Pirate Entrance I immediately asked, "Why do you think it's called the Pirate Entrance?" Then we spotted our answer. Duluthians have a great sense of humor.How cool is this?!We were drawn to Superior Street, the historic commercial spine of downtown Duluth. It evolved from a rough pioneer trail and mule-drawn transit route into a bustling 20th-century urban hub and a modern revitalized corridor.I do love a Carnegie Library. Andrew Carnegie gave $75,000 in 1899 for this building which opened in 1902. It served as the main Duluth Public Library for decades. The replacement is pretty sweet, too (scroll to see below).We spied this spectacular building when we arrived. It demanded a closer explore. Historic Central High School is a grand castle-like landmark built in 1892 that operated as a public high school until 1971. The architectural firm Palmer, Hall, & Hunt designed the building. They modeled it after the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, created by famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson.The interior originally contained 11 classrooms on the ground floor and 10 on the second floor, a library with a large fireplace, offices, and a two-story auditorium. Large double staircases of slate and iron led to the upper floors. The third floor contained laboratories, shop classrooms, a gymnasium, a music room, and a teaching museum. Much of the interior was altered in later years due to the changing needs and new safety standards of the school. A wing containing an updated gymnasium and chemistry classrooms was later added to the north.The current Duluth Public Library opened in 1980. Famed architect Gunnar Birkerts designed the distinctive modernist structure, styled with a slate-gray exterior and an anchored ore-boat motif to reflect Duluth's maritime heritage.Oh man, how cool is this? “Books on the Plaza” mural was very huggable. The book to my left is by an author who I have actually met. So cool, indeed.Karen, me, and Kent Krueger (Left Coast Crime, 2018).
Beautiful. The Chateau French-Normandy style St. Louis County Depot opened in 1892 as a grand union station and now serves as a vibrant cultural and museum hub. During its peak, the station served seven different major railroads, handling up to 5,000 passengers daily across 50 trains.Sadly, it was being renovated so we had to use our imaginations to see its interior grandeur.It was here where we had the honor of meeting Albert Henry Woolson (1850- 1856). He was an American Union Army drummer who served during the American Civil War. He is generally regarded as the last surviving Union Army veteran of the war and, following his death, as the last surviving Civil War veteran whose military service was undisputed.After our crazy wanderings about town, we found our way back to our home base for lunch and a rest before returning to Canal Park for an evening out.Over 7,500 steps of meandering this morning.Walking along the water afforded us warmth and beautiful views.Happy hour, a new meat product, and live jazz was found at the Northern Waters Smokehaus.When in 'Rome'! Steve and I both had to try a Buddy. He chose the Bison while I enjoyed the Smoked Salmon. Different, indeed.We then enjoyed live jazz-infused R&B, swing, and funk featuring long-time Twin Ports musicians The Hounds. Their rendition of America the Beautiful was magical. What a way to end Duluth Day 2.Maybe Monarch spotting was the best way to end the day. There are over 125 certified Monarch Waystations and pollinator plots scattered across local parks, nature centers, and residential gardens. Migrating monarchs arrive in the Duluth area in late May after traveling north from Mexico and the southern U.S. Fall. Peak activity and sightings happen in late August and September as the final generation travels back south toward Mexico. We are so fortunate to be catching them before they say, ¡Adios!Just stating it again... We 💙 Duluth.
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