Walking Around Downtown Duluth

I decided to take a walk around Duluth today.  It was actually a nice enough day to do so.

Prior to it's discovery by European settlers, the Duluth area was inhabited by the Ojibwe Native American Tribe and it was known as Onigamiinsing which means Little Portage.  It was a good portage point between Lake Superior and St. Louis Bay (which is what forms the harbor).  The first Europeans to explore the area were the fur traders Pierre Raddison and Medard des Groeilliers in 1654 and later in 1660.  Shortly after that, French fur trader posts were set up.  The St. Louis River was explored by Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut (which is Anglicized to Duluth).

After 1792, the North West Company established several trading posts in the area.  They established a fort here, named Fort St. Louis.  A permanent settlement was established in the mid 1850's when it was rumored there was copper in the area.  Eleven towns were formed along the St. Louis River (these would later merge to become Duluth).  With the opening of the Soo Locks in 1855 and the establishment of railroads, Duluth became a port with access to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  The town was officially incorporated in 1857.  It currently has a population of 86,000.

 Like many towns in the Midwest, Duluth looks like it has seen better days.  This building used to be a police station.

 It seems like they are trying to revitalize the downtown area by bringing in galleries and restaurants.   Across the street from these buildings is a casino.

 I kind of liked the murals on the walls of these buildings.

 Looking down at another block.

 This is the First Presbyterian Church of Duluth.  It was established in 1869.  Not sure about the building.

 I'm not sure what this building used to be, but it is some sort of religious building now.

 The old high school of Duluth.

 An old fire station.

 Looking down one of the streets in Duluth.  As you can see, the city is pretty hilly.

 This is Sacred Heart Church but for some reason it doesn't look like it serves as a church any more.

 This is the Duluth City Hall building.

 Duluth also serves as the County Seat and this is the county building.

 Looking up at a couple of the buildings.  I think these used to be bank buildings.

 Looking down one of the nicer blocks.

 Getting back towards where I started.

 I saw the Coney Island, so this is where I decided to grab lunch.  It was pretty good.

One more picture before moving on.

As I said in the beginning, Duluth looks like a city that has seen better days.  It is sad that so many cities of the Midwest are like that.