A good starting place is your local library, your university library and the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center (located in the UMD library). And, as doubledutch mentions, talking to people.

I disagree with the "throwing away the keyboard" crap.  Some of the best stories I found came from internet searches.  Or at least they started out that way.  Network as best you can, whether that's on PDD or talking to people.  The idea is to reach as many people as possible, so why not try the interent.  I'm sure Julin or Hatcher have told you, or made you just go sit in busy places, but don't be shy.  Ask people, then ask people about their friends, then ask their friends' friends..... you get the idea.  Someone knows something, but don't listen to the people that say ditch the keyboard.  That's only a half-truth.

At least throw away the e-mail and talk to people.  Lots of grassroots great stuff:  Mens as Peace Makers, PAVSA, CHUM, Clayton/Jackson/McGhee Memorial.  Good luck.  Glad you're doing this.

Yup this was 'off-track'...it stretches your storyline a bit but think of it as a 'grassroots' effort to enchance the future of passenger service for Duluth and interviewing the 'movers-and shakers' as almost secondary to your fine trip...oh, well, I tried...or save it for another assignment...cheers.

Rachel Johnson wrote her play about housing by hanging out at the Cozy. It's the Laramie Project method.

Think Black History Month. Think Kitchee Gamme Club. Think exclusive membership. 

Has there ever been a Black business man or a Native American holding membership in the club?

The 'social activist' is the interviewer here. Don't go in the service entrance but wipe your feet and search away. You may even get a free meal out of experience...even if you have to eat it in the chef's work station? Explore new history sources, not just cover the same'ol...enough already.

@ resol: Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail is a good start.

Eraestrawn - will you let us know where the search takes you? This is an interesting assignment, and I'd love to hear what you find.

I'm all about reading the final product on this project ... I read up pretty heavily on Isle Royale before the trip over. Call it an obsessive compulsive thing...but I like knowing as much as possible about a location/destination, etc. before I venture out into it. 

Getting out into it is great, but the minutiae behind it is always fun to know.