Great Lakes Ships and Shipping Industry Posts

Mystery Photo #58: Steamer Perry G. Walker

Although the date Dec. 11 is recorded on this image, it’s not clear what year it was when the steamer Perry G. Walker arrived in Duluth covered in ice. It’s also not clear if this is a photo or an illustration … or an illustrated photo.

How much ship traffic goes through Superior Entry?

It seems most ship traffic going onto the lake from Duluth-Superior goes through the canal under the Aerial Lift Bridge. How much ship traffic uses the Superior Entry, which is between Minnesota Point and Wisconsin Point? Only the ships going to and from Allouez?

CN Duluth Intermodal Terminal: Opening new markets

Last week an official ribbon cutting was held at the CN Duluth Intermodal Terminal. Politicians and transportation business leaders gathered to tout the partnership between Canadian National Railway Company and Duluth Cargo Connect, which created the first rail-served intermodal container ramp in the Twin Ports, positioning the region for direct transportation of containerized imports and exports to East, West and Gulf Coast ports via Duluth.

Duluth Cargo Connect is a working partnership of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority and Lake Superior Warehousing. The rail-served facility is located at Clure Public Marine Terminal on Rice’s Point.

Why is a full-service, multimodal hub for domestic and international trade so important? Lake Superior Magazine explains in an article published Sept. 20: Going Intermodal.

Duluth Smells Ocean Breezes

Duluth Smells Ocean Breezes

Below is the complete text of a Duluth story from page six of The Observer out of Saline, Mich., from Thursday, June 14, 1934, reprinted from Collier’s magazine.

Video Archive: 1964 Great Lakes Adventure

detroit-to-duluth-mapThis 16mm film documentary was produced by Detroit Public Schools and the Ford Motor Company. It chronicles a trip aboard the Ford Motor Company freighter as it voyages from the River Rouge Factory Complex to Duluth and back with a load of iron ore.

The program is sexy throughout, but since it’s an educational film you might want the cheat sheet or Cliff Notes. The Duluth segment of the adventure starts at the 13-minute mark and ends at the 17-minute mark.

Much appreciation to the Detroit Historical Society for making this gem available to the masses.

Duluth and Isle Royale, c. 1933

A film of Duluth and a trip to Isle Royale by my Grandpa Henry.

Aquarium hosts “Ships in the Night”

Great Lakes Aquarium will exhibit photographs by Mary T. George from March 2 to May 22 in the Aquarium’s fine arts gallery. The public is invited to an opening reception Wednesday, March 2, from 5-7 p.m.   The exhibit features photos of ships that have made recent history in the Twin Ports including the Mesabi Miner, Edgar B. Speer, Edwin H. Gott and others.  

Aquarium Executive Director Jack LaVoy says that Mary “brings the energy and majesty of our working waterfront to life and sets a standard of excellence that can only be achieved by someone with an artist’s eye and an abiding love of the harbor.”