Before the Blatnik Bridge was named for Congressman John A. Blatnik in 1971, it was called the Duluth-Superior Bridge and known colloquially as the “High Bridge,” but for some reason it shows up on a few postcards as the “Hi Bridge,” as if people were supposed to wave and say Minnesota-nice hellos as they crossed.
The postcard above, published by Gallagher’s Studio of Photography, has the following caption on the back:
Crossing the New 21 Million Dollar Hi Bridge linking Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. Westerly Port of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The bridge was dedicated in 1961, so the use of the word “new” in the caption dates the postcards as circa the early ’60s.
The card below, also from Gallagher, has a similar caption on the back.
