Things To Do in Duluth
Bob Dylan’s Birthplace Home
517 North 3rd Avenue East, Duluth, MN, 55805
Robert Allen Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan) was born on May 24, 1941, right here in Duluth. For the next six years of his life, he and his family lived in the upper part of this house, located at 517 North 3rd Avenue East. When his father became stricken with polio, he and his family moved to nearby Hibbing.
Directions: Take the Mesaba Avenue exit off 1-35. Take a right on West 4th Street, then take a left on North 3rd Avenue East, then a left on North 3rd Ave East (near St. Mary’s Hospital). The house is up the hill 1 ½ blocks on the left.
Granitoid Street
East 7th Street, from 25th Ave. East to Wallace Ave., Duluth, MN, 55812
The second oldest concrete street in the nation is a three block section of East 7th Street in Duluth (25th Ave. East to Wallace Avenue). It was paved in 1909 using ‘Granitoid’, a quarry rock mixture with an unusual textured paving block-like surface that provided good traction for both horses hooves and motor vehicles. The first oldest concrete street is supposedly in Detroit, MI.
Directions: Take the South 26th Avenue East exit off 1-35. Take a left at the stop sign at the end of the exit and travel up the hill to East 7th Street.
Vista Fleet Excursions
The Vista Fleet provides narrated 1.5 hour sightseeing cruises, lunch cruises, weekend brunch cruises, two hour dinner cruises, and Saturday moonlight cruises. All are entertaining. Dinner cruises feature prime rib and chicken. All cruises will take you close to light houses, ocean going ships, etc.
Directions: Take the I-35 Exit 256B located on Harbor Drive between the Great Lakes Aquarium and William A. Irvin.
Glensheen Estate
3300 London Road Duluth Minnesota 55804
Ph: (218)726 8910 Toll free: (888)454 GLEN
Old empire-building plutocrat’s mansion open for public tours. Thirty nine rooms. All original custom furnishings. Formal gardens. Actual ‘Clue’ murder site…intruder killed owner with candlestick in the bedroom. Also a Hollywood movie location for “You’ll Like My Mother,” a 70’s Patty Duke thriller.
Directions: I – 35 North to end, then right on London Road about a mile. Mansion on right.
Great Lakes Aquarium
353 Harbor Drive Duluth, MN 55802
Ph: (218)740 3474 Fax: (218)740 2020
Largest freshwater fish exhibit tanks in the world. Seventy species of fish, fun otters, lots of amphibians, birds and other creatures. First class gift shop.
Directions: At the foot of 5th Ave. West next to Bayfront Park.
North Shore Scenic Railroad
506 West Michigan Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802
Ph: (218)722 1273 Toll Free: (800)423 1273
Another good ride. 1.5 or 6 hours of fine sightseeing right next to the north shore of Lake Superior. Vintage coaches. Evening Pizza Trains.
Directions: Ticket and board behind Depot on 5th Ave West and Michigan St.
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
506 West Michigan Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802
Ph: (218)722 1273 Toll Free: (800)423 1273
This railroad museum has the largest collection of historic trains and related artifacts in the midwest. A complete walkthrough will take two to three hours.
Directions: On the track level of the historic Union Depot on 5th Ave West and Michigan St.
Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center
522 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802-2310
Ph: (218)727 2497
The Marine Museum has exhibits relating to commercial shipping, past and present. Bonus – It’s free.
Directions: Located next to the Aerial Lift Bridge at the end of Lake Avenue.
Fitger’s Brewery Complex Museum
600 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802
Ph:(218)722 8826
[email protected]
Opened in 1857, Fitger’s was the first brewery in Minnesota and at one time was the most successful as well. View memorabilia from time’s past and enjoy the several shops and restaurants within the building.
Directions: Take the Superior Street exit off of I-35, go 13 blocks. Fitger’s will be on the right.
Port Town Trolley
2402 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55806
Ph: 218-722-SAVE (7283)
Tour downtown Duluth and the waterfront attractions in the Canal Park area. The trolley runs every 10-20 minutes during the summer months.
Directions: Take the 27th Avenue West exit off of I-35. Take a right onto West Michigan Street.
Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center
305 Harbor View Parkway, Superior, WI 54880
Ph: (715)392 7151 Toll Free: (888)816 9944
The Richard I Bong World War II Heritage Center honors the memory of Richard I Bong, an America’s Ace of Aces and Medal of Honor recipient, and all of those who participated in WWII.
Directions: Take Hwy 2 exit to Wisconsin off of I-35. Go through downtown Superior (Hwy 2 will turn into Belknap St). Located on the corner of Hwy 2/Belknap and Hwy 53.
S.S. Meteor & Maritime Museum
(715)394 5712
Launched in 1896, tour the “Last Whaleback on Earth” used for carrying cargo across the Great Lakes. The ship was brought home to Superior in 1972 and was made into a museum featuring Twin Port shipbuilding history and Great Lakes shipwrecks.
Directions: Take Hwy 2 in Wisconsin to Barker’s Island.
Enger Tower
16th Ave. W. and Skyline Drive, Duluth, MN 55802-1192
(218)723 3300
Great picnic spot featuring hiking trails and gardens. The 80 ft., five story tower was dedicated by Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway in 1939.
Directions: Take Skyline Parkway off Hank Jensen Drive.
Aerial Lift Bridge
Lake Avenue over Duluth Ship Canal, Duluth, MN 55802
Originally built as an aerial transfer bridge in 1905 it was later transformed in 1929 into a verticle lift bridge. Connects Duluth and Park Point areas.
Directions: Take Lake Avenue exit off of I-35, follow to lift bridge.
Depot Square
506 West Michigan Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802
Ph: (218)727 8025
Home to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Built in 1892 and formerly a Union Railroad Depot, it now showcases the culture of Duluth with its four museum exhibits and performing arts wing.
Directions: Take Superior Street exit off of I-35. Take a right onto North 6th Avenue West, then take a left onto West Michigan Street. Depot is on the right.
Split Rock Lighthouse
3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616
Ph: 218-226-6372
Shipwrecks from a mighty 1905 November gale prompted this rugged landmark’s construction. Completed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1910, Split Rock Light Station was soon one of Minnesota’s best known landmarks. Restored to its 1920s appearance, the lighthouse offers a glimpse of lighthouse life in this remote and spectacular setting.
Sinclair Lewis Home
2601 East 2nd Street, Duluth, MN, 55812
Sinclair Lewis, the first American author to win the Nobel Prize for literature, rented and lived in this majestic house for short periods of time during the latter years of his life.
Directions: Take the South 26th Avenue East exit off 1-35. Take a left at the stop sign at the end of the exit and travel up the hill to East 2nd Street. The house is on the right corner of 26th Ave East and East 2nd Street.
Park Point Beach
5000 Minnesota Ave, Duluth, MN 55802
Park Point is located at the end of Minnesota Avenue and is a popular summer destination for swimming and recreation. The park has a large recreational playing field, sand volleyball courts, a playground, and multiple pavilions and grills which are available for reservation. The Beach House is managed by the Duluth Area Family YMCA. Lifeguards are on the beach during the summer season.
Directions: From I-35 take Lake Avenue/Canal Park exit. On Lake Avenue, drive to the first traffic light and turn right. Then take the first left onto Minnesota Avenue. Take Minnesota Avenue across Aerial Lift Bridge to the Park Point Recreation Area.