Zenith City on Tap: Financing the Fortune that Built Glensheen

Every Wednesday in February Glensheen presents “Zenith City On Tap,” a series of talks on the history of Duluth by author and historian Tony Dierckins, publisher of Duluth’s Zenith City Press.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7. Local beer and wine available for purchase.

Feb. 21: “Financing the Fortune that Built Glensheen”
After John D. Rockefeller essentially stole the Mesabi Iron Range holdings of West Duluth’s Merritt family in 1894, Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and Henry Oliver — with his partner Chester Congdon –battled over the Iron Range. The fight ended when J. P. Morgan formed U. S. Steel, which also created the fortune that financed the construction of public libraries across the nation as well as Congdon’s Glensheen.

Feb. 28: “From Stone to Steel: Twin Ports’ Pioneer Industries”
Both sides of the St. Louis River between Duluth and Superior were once lined with ore docks, coal docks, lumber mills, flour mills, grain terminals, ship-building centers and metal manufacturing plants. From Fond du Lac’ early brownstone quarries of to Morgan Park’s giant Minnesota Steel Plant, this presentation explains the rise and demise of the industries that built the Twin Ports and created Duluth’s East-West divide.