The River Talks: Duluth’s Lost Industries Along the St. Louis River

Local historian and author Tony Dierckins presents “Duluth’s Lost Industries Along the St. Louis River” during this edition of the River Talks. Refreshments will be provided.

The shores of the lower St. Louis River were once lined with ore and coal docks, grain terminals, flour and lumber mills, steel plants, shipyards and dozens of other manufacturers. From the brownstone quarries of Fond du Lac to Gary New Duluth’s giant Minnesota Steel Plant, this presentation explains the rise and demise of the industries that both built the Zenith City and altered and contaminated Lake Superior’s largest tributary.

Dierckins has written more than two-dozen books, many of which celebrate historic Duluth. He is a three-time recipient of the Northeast Minnesota Book Award, a past recipient of the Duluth Depot Foundation’s Historic Preservation and Interpretation Award, and the publisher of Zenith City Press.

The River Talks is a free, informal speaker series about the St. Louis River Estuary in Duluth-Superior and a cooperative project between Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve. To learn more visit the go.wisc.edu.