Perfect Duluth Day - Duluth, MN Events, News, Blog

Superior Street, Sept. 11, 1907: Introduction (Part 1 of 10)

Matthew James Apr 05, 2026 No Comments

Superior Street, 1907.

The image above comes from a high resolution scan of Superior Street looking east toward Fifth Avenue West. It has been shared online many times before, including on Perfect Duluth Day. For those who have wondered about the businesses visible and half-hidden in the photo and the stories behind them, this series has some answers. Using the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub to match photo elements with newspaper articles, it describes a maritime birth, a crooked pawn shop owner, and an ingenious inventor in its tales of both incredible wealth and stark poverty on Superior Street in 1907.

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History, Photos

The Fine China

Paul Lundgren Apr 04, 2026 No Comments

My maternal grandmother purchased a nice set of porcelain dinnerware in 1953. That was back when ladies got all giddy over fine china. One of my grandmother’s sisters had the same set of dishes. Perhaps they were thinking they could lend each other teacups if either hosted a large gathering.

I’m certain my mother told me all the details related to the fine china numerous times over the years, but I didn’t really pay attention because she was talking about fine china and no one cares about fine china anymore.

Ten days before I was born, in 1972, my grandmother died. It’s a strange kind of grief for me to carry, because it comes with a sense that it began in utero. The idea of my mother’s sadness transferring to the fetal version of me is a little silly, of course, and probably manufactured entirely in my imagination, but still, my grandmother holds a heavy emotional sway with me for someone I never met. It is at least true that I entered the world into a family in mourning. Learning about it later is enough to make it a memory. When I see a photo of my grandmother or hear a story about her, it punches me in the gut because we came so close to meeting but never did. If a story about my grandmother involves fine china, however, my mind will wander because there are few things less interesting than fine china.

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Random

The Imperatur YouTube channel focuses on Duluth

Matthew James Apr 03, 2026 No Comments

A popular YouTube channel based out of Germany features “mini documentaries about cities and infrastructure around the world.” It recently posted an episode on the urban planning challenges faced by Duluth. Within the rapid 9-minute overview, there is a lot that is correct. And there is just as much to quibble about, which is often the more fun part of watching videos like this.


Videos

Making it Up North: Portage North

PDDTV Apr 02, 2026 No Comments

Michael Larson, owner of Portage North and Sun Dog Sport in Ely, talks about life at the Boundary Waters and making durable portage packs and dog harnesses.

Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.


Outdoors, Videos ,

Hauliwood Dreams – “Helan Går: It All Goes Down”

PDDTV Apr 01, 2026 No Comments

The latest from the Finnish-American novelty band Hauliwood Dreams is a traditional Swedish drinking song turned into a Nordic celebration of tradition with a Finnish-American twist. The group features Duluth’s Steve Solkela partnering with Miska Kajanus and led by Maria Voltaine, who wrote the song lyrics and music and produced the video.


Music, Videos ,

Hertzel explores memories, ghosts in new book

Seth Roeser Mar 31, 2026 No Comments

Laurie Hertzel. (Photo by Doug Iverson)

Book reviewer and Duluth native Laurie Hertzel has been fascinated with memories, ghosts and reading since she was a child. Her third book and second memoir, Ghosts of Fourth Street: My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth, details the quiet lives of the Hertzel family through the young author’s eyes — growing up in Duluth in the 1960s, scraping her knees, slumber parties and a Ouija board, a distaste for pineapple sundaes — and culminates in her family’s most private moment, the death of her eldest sibling, John Patrick “Bobby” Hertzel, and its aftermath.

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Random

Postcard from the John A. Blatnik Bridge

Paul Lundgren Mar 30, 2026 No Comments

This undated postcard, circa the mid 1990s, shows the Blatnik Bridge connecting Duluth and Superior. The card was published by Erickson Post Cards & Souvenirs and the photo is credited to Grandmaison Photography.

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History , , ,

A Year of Wild Moments at a Remote Trail Crossing

PDDTV Mar 27, 2026 No Comments

This video montage shows highlights from a year’s worth of critters passing though the intersection of a remote hiking trail and a deer trail in Voyageurs National Park. The footage is from the Voyageurs Wolf Project, which is focused on understanding the summer ecology of wolves in the park.


Outdoors, Videos

Just Me: A project to increase connection to nature and embolden bicycle use as transportation

David Beard Mar 27, 2026 No Comments

My friend and former student Kevin Stanke recently shared his final project in the Master of Professional Studies program at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His work sets out to increase people’s connection to nature and to embolden bicycle use as a primary form of transportation. He’s given me permission to share it here.

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Outdoors, Videos ,

The water is 32 degrees

Beverly Godfrey Mar 26, 2026 No Comments

Two canoeists paddled into the Duluth Ship Canal Thursday morning. They took turns standing up in the canoe, getting out and standing on a chunk of ice. They took photos of each other.

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Outdoors, Politics, Random , , , ,

Making it Up North: Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips

PDDTV Mar 26, 2026 No Comments

Jake and Jessica Hway, owners of Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips, have built a life centered around a 90-dog pack, focusing on older dogs that still have a passion for the trail.

Making it Up North is a PBS North series that explores stories of creative artists, artisans and entrepreneurs engaged in honing their skills, following their passion and realizing their dreams.


Videos , ,

Tolkien Reading Day 2026

David Beard Mar 25, 2026 No Comments

I have just learned that the Tolkien Society sponsors an annual Tolkien Reading Day on March 25. The text below is a press release. Would anyone like to help plan a Duluth event for next year?

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Random , ,

Duluth source for ICE Out signs?

Chris Correia Mar 24, 2026 1 Comment

Does an organization in the Duluth area have ICE Out yard signs available? I’d rather get something local than order something online.


Recommendations

Sleeping Giants 2026

PDDTV Mar 23, 2026 No Comments

The Soo Locks, gateway to Lake Superior, are scheduled to reopen for the 2026 shipping season on March 25. This aerial video offers views of the winter layups in Wisconsin as the “Sleeping Giants” prepare to wake.

The video begins at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, where several vessels sit quietly in winter layup. Also in Superior are a pair of 1000-footers — Indiana Harbor at the Lakehead Pipeline dock and Burns Harbor at Elevator M. The video closes with scenes from Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.


Videos

Postcard from the Court House at Duluth

Paul Lundgren Mar 22, 2026 No Comments

This undated postcard, created by the V.O. Hammon Publishing Company, shows the St. Louis County Courthouse in Downtown Duluth, which opened in 1909.


History , ,