Canal Park, Duluth facts for kids

Canal Park is a fun and exciting area in Duluth, Minnesota. It's a popular spot for both visitors and people who live there. Canal Park is located right next to Downtown Duluth, and it's connected to the Park Point sandbar by the famous Aerial Lift Bridge. This area is known for its cool shops, tasty restaurants, cozy cafés, and nice hotels.

Discover Canal Park's History

Canal Park used to be a place with lots of old warehouses. But in the 1980s, people decided to turn it into a lively area for tourists. Duluth had faced some tough times when its big industries slowed down. So, they thought, "Let's use our city's interesting past to bring in visitors!" This idea worked, and Canal Park became a busy and fun place.

Fun Things to Do in Canal Park

There are so many cool things to see and do in Canal Park!

Walk Along the Lakewalk

One of the best attractions is the 4.2-mile-long Lakewalk. It's a beautiful path right along the shore of Lake Superior. You can walk, bike, or just enjoy the amazing views of the lake.

Explore the Lighthouse Pier

Don't miss the lighthouse pier! You can walk out onto it and get a close-up look at the lighthouse. It's a great spot to watch boats or just enjoy the fresh air.

Learn About Ships

If you love boats, you're in for a treat!

• The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center is a fantastic place to learn all about the ships that travel on the Great Lakes. It's free to enter!
• You can also visit the William A. Irvin floating ship museum. It's an old iron ore ship that you can explore.
• It's super exciting to watch huge ships from all over the world come into Duluth's port. They pass right through the canal!

Visit the Great Lakes Aquarium

The Great Lakes Aquarium is another must-see. It's home to many different kinds of fish and animals that live in the Great Lakes and other freshwater habitats.

Catch a Show or Event

The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) is a big place where many events happen. It's connected to the AMSOIL Arena, which is a cool spot for sports and concerts. The DECC also connects to the skywalk system in Downtown Duluth, so you can walk indoors to other parts of the city.

Exciting Events in Canal Park

Canal Park hosts several big events throughout the year.

• The Bayfront Blues Festival brings amazing music to the area.
• Grandma's Marathon is a famous running race that starts in Two Harbors, Minnesota, and finishes right here in Canal Park! It's a huge event with lots of energy.

Local Connections

Canal Park is also home to the broadcast studios for the Duluth NBC affiliate KBJR. So, some of your local news comes from right here!

Images for kids

• 

  Aerial view with downtown and skyline

• 

  Carriage ride

• 

  Ship canal

• 

  Lower North Shore from Canal Park