Minnesota Point facts for kids
Minnesota Point, also known as Park Point, is a long, thin strip of land in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It's like a sandy arm reaching out from the city's Canal Park area. This landform separates Lake Superior from Superior Bay and the Duluth Harbor.
The main road through this area is South Lake Avenue, which turns into Minnesota Avenue.
Near the end of Minnesota Point, you'll find a small airport called Sky Harbor Airport. Beyond the airport, there's a special forest with very old red and white pine trees. This forest is protected as the Minnesota Point Pine Forest Scientific and Natural Area and covers about 18 acres.
Minnesota Point is about 7 miles (11 kilometers) long. If you add Wisconsin Point, which stretches 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Superior, Wisconsin, the total length of this sandy strip is 10 miles (16 kilometers)!
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A Look Back: History of Minnesota Point
The Ojibwe people, who lived here first, called Duluth Onigamiinsing. This means "at the little portage," because it was easy to carry boats across Minnesota Point.
In the 1850s, the Saint Louis River became the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. This made the cities of Duluth and Superior strong rivals for shipping business on Lake Superior. As more ships used the lake after the Sault Ste Marie canal was built, the government decided to build a lighthouse.
The Old Lighthouse
The Minnesota Point Light was built between 1855 and 1858 at the narrow opening called Superior Entry. It was the first lighthouse to use a special type of lens called a Fresnel lamp. This lighthouse was lovingly known as "The Old Standby." Today, it's an abandoned ruin, but it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its importance.
Becoming an Island
In 1870–1871, the Duluth Ship Canal was dug. This canal cut through Minnesota Point, making it technically an island! Since 1905, the Aerial Lift Bridge has connected Minnesota Point to the rest of Duluth.
Recent Changes on the Point
Starting in 2023, a company began buying and fixing up properties on Minnesota Point. By March 2024, they owned twenty homes. The company's manager said they wanted to make the neighborhood more beautiful and modern. They plan to add new things like a coffee shop and a sports complex for pickleball, basketball, and street hockey.
Nearby Places
- Canal Park and Downtown Duluth are just north of Minnesota Point.
