Paul Lundgren
Northern Pacific Dock No. 4
This image from a 35mm Kodachrome slide shows Northern Pacific Dock No. 4 on Duluth’s waterfront in 1953 — 70 years ago. The location is where Bayfront Park is today.
Postcard from Bloomer’s Drive-in
Bloomer’s Drive-in was a roadside restaurant in Duluth, located near the ore docks and Wade Stadium. It opened in 1955, operated by Walter Bloomer and his younger brother Robert. It was sold in 1960. (more…)
PDD Transmission launches June 29
The first edition of Perfect Duluth Day’s weekly email newsletter, the PDD Transmission, will be sent out June 29. It’s free, but to receive it you must spend roughly 20 seconds entering your name and email address into a form. We hope you are up to the task.
Whether you need additional inspiration or not, a prize is dangling in front of you. (more…)
Selective Focus: Pre-summer PDDs
Select photos from Instagram spanning mid-May to mid-June 2023, all hashtagged with the name of a certain website. #perfectduluthday (more…)
Marty Marflow and the Melody Makers (featuring the Calhoun Sisters) – “Duluth St. Paul & Winona”
There are a few songs on Perfect Duluth Day’s list of songs with “Duluth” in the lyrics or title that are not available online. The one we highlight here is “Duluth St. Paul & Winona” by Marty Marflow and the Melody Makers (featuring the Calhoun Sisters), which was released 20 years ago. (more…)
Mystery Photos: Handsome Men at Ely Studio
The identities of the four gentlemen in this photo are not known, but the postcard is marked as having been shot at the Ely Studio. Photographer Cook Ely operated in Duluth from roughly 1895 to 1914, with a stint in St. Paul somewhere in the middle. Ely Studio was located at 2030 W. Superior St. — the corner where the Anderson Furniture building stands today.
This photo sold recently on eBay, where it was titled “RPPC Handsome Men w Hats Ely Studio of Duluth Studio Real Photo Postcard.”
Postcard from the Passenger Station at Duluth circa 1910
This early 20th century postcard shows the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Passenger Station, which was located in Duluth’s old waterfront warehouse district — basically between Amsoil Arena and the Ordean Building where I-35 is now.
Miller Music Company: Photos from the Estate of Ben B. Miller
One century ago the Miller Brothers opened Miller Music Company at 8 W. First St. in Duluth’s Spina Building. According to the Kathryn A. Martin Library’s Archives & Special Collections at the University of Minnesota Duluth, “Abe Miller was a violinist and the manager of the Duluth Symphony for 37 years beginning in 1932. Ben was an assistant manager of Northern Drug prior to launching the music store in 1922.” (more…)
Matchbooks from Duluth Hotels and Motels
Modern and fireproof, featuring the finest food and liquors, located at the center of everything and on the shore of beautiful Lake Superior, containing all possible comforts and conveniences, with lodging available for the whole family, they are the classic hotels and motels of Duluth.
This is the fourth in Perfect Duluth Day’s series of matchbook collection posts. As always, we remind everyone to please close the cover before striking. (more…)
Mystery Photo: Perhaps a Duluth Fraternal Group from 1908
This image is from a postcard mailed 115 years ago today — May 23, 1908 — available for sale on ebay. It’s been touched up a bit here for easier viewing. The obvious mystery is what organization the people in the photo belong to.
The item is listed on eBay as “1908 RPPC Duluth Minnesota College Club Vintage Postcard MN Land Point Idaho ID.” The “college club” part of that is clearly speculative. Many of the men have sashes and badges that suggest perhaps they are part of a fraternal club like the Odd Fellows. (more…)
Selective Focus: Surfy, Smelty, Swirly PDDs
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsJuSYYLtG9/
Select photos from Instagram spanning mid-April to mid-May 2023, all hashtagged with the name of a certain website. #perfectduluthday (more…)
PDD Shop Talk: The Art of Clickbait
Three of Duluth’s best sledding hills are at Bayfront Park, Wheeler Field and Keene Creek Dog Park. One of the city’s best beaches is at the base of Ely’s Peak. OMC Smokehouse is a popular spot in Canal Park. (more…)
Homegrown Music Festival 2023 Photo Slideshow
The 25th annual Homegrown Music Festival featured 171 acts. I made it to 57 — which is a lot, but also only one-third of the available options. The scope of the festival makes each experience unique, so obviously one person’s photo collection will vary significantly from another’s. (more…)
Duluth Album Releases in 2023
Dirty Knobs
666666SuperSatan
(Jan. 6)
Available on Bandcamp
God’s Holy Blood
Self titled
(Jan. 20)
Available on Bandcamp
Ill Fortune
Ill Ol’ Me
(Jan. 28)
Available on various platforms
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Recovery Beer Lunch
Select Instagram images from the closing event of the Homegrown Music Festival — the Recovery Beer Lunch at Canal Park Brewing Company with the final three bands. (more…)
Postcard of Duncan Bay from Lookout Louise
Git yer flannel on. This undated postcard from Isle Royale was published by the National Park Commissions and is at least 20 years old. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Roll Night
Select Instagram images from day seven of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Rawkers crush Rollers in Homegrown Kickball Classic 2023
Rohrbaugh’s Rawkers piled on five runs in the seventh inning and four more in the eighth to easily top Vaagen’s Rollers 13-4 in the 2023 Homegrown Kickball Classic at Chester Bowl. The Rawkers now lead the overall series with 12 wins in 23 games. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023: Rawk Night
Select Instagram images from day six of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Soup Town Night
Select Instagram images from day five of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Westside Wednesday
Select Instagram images from day four of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Canal Park Night
Select Instagram images from day three of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Selective Focus: Homegrown 2023 Craft District Night
Select Instagram images from day two of the Homegrown Music Festival. (more…)
Mystery Photo: Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Due to adequate labeling on the back of this photo, there isn’t too much mystery. But then again, there’s always a little mystery in there somewhere. (more…)