Paul Lundgren
Selective Focus: More Summer PDDs
Instagram
54 likes, 0 comments - richhoeg on August 2, 2023: "Today marks the sixth month I have watched my local owls since they decided to nest near the end of my driveway in early March. I believe this is one of the parent Great Horned Owls enjoying our unusual 85F heat near Lake Superior this afternoon. I have now followed this family of owls for five consecutive years.
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#greathornedowl #perfectduluthday #destinationduluth #owl #duluthlakeside".
instagram.com
Select photos from Instagram spanning mid-July to mid-August 2023, all hashtagged with the name of a certain website. #perfectduluthday (more…)
Duluth Artificial Limb House
Long before Duluth had a House of Donuts it had a house of limbs. This ad is from the 1900 Duluth-Superior city directory.
Quarry Park: Let’s Have Sex
Though it is important to first point out that applying graffiti on rocks or any other thing in a city park is just plain wrong, we should also not let the medium distract from the message.
Postcard from the Alworth Building in 1913
This postcard of Duluth’s Alworth Building was mailed Aug. 11, 1913 — 110 years ago today. Someone named Mary sent it from Duluth to Miss Julia Heskin in Minneapolis. (more…)
Riding High on the Aerial Lift Bridge
This wacky postcard was mailed 55 years ago today — Aug. 8, 1968. The caption on the back reads: “Riding High on the Famous Aerial Lift Bridge, Duluth, Minnesota.” (more…)
Postcard from a “Log Raft”
The location this photo was shot from is not entirely clear, but the caption on back reads, “Log Raft as seen along the Lake Superior Circle Route.” It’s from an undated postcard published by Gallagher’s Studio of Photography in Duluth.
Duluth Waterfront Aerial Photo Circa 1903
This image from the Minnesota Digital Library, contributed from the Kathryn A. Martin Library Archives & Special Collections is estimated to be from the year 1903 — 120 years ago. It shows the Duluth Shipping Canal prior to construction of the Aerial Bridge, along with views of Canal Park, Rice’s Point and the old West End. (more…)
Postcard from the Babes on Park Point
This undated postcard features a trio of sunbathing beauties on Park Point circa the 1960s.
Selective Focus: Full-on PDDs
Instagram
73 likes, 5 comments - thermes_dlh on June 28, 2023: "We’re so fortunate to live in a city where you can see wildlife right out your door
#duluthmn #befromduluth #perfectduluthday #destinationduluth #visitduluth #thisismymn #thelakeandcompany #upnorth #lakesuperior #lakesuperiormagazine #minnesota #mphotographer #exploremn #minnesotaexposure #minnesota #lakesuperiorphotography #midwest_captures #midwestphotographs #midwestexposure #photography #minnesotaexposure #onlyinmn #captureminnesota #keepthenorthcold #loveitlikewedo #freeairlife".
instagram.com
Select photos from Instagram spanning mid-June to mid-July 2023, all hashtagged with the name of a certain website. #perfectduluthday (more…)
Love and Kisses from Duluth in 1903
This Detroit Publishing Company postcard of Duluth is copyright 1902 and was mailed July 16, 1903 — 120 years ago today. The writing at the left indicates the temperature that day was 71 degrees.
Duluth Boat Club racers trained on Shredded Wheat Biscuit
The Duluth Boat Club Eight Oared Crew won the Senior Eight Oared Race in the Northwestern International Regatta at St. Paul in July 1913 — 110 years ago — according to this Shredded Wheat Company advertisement. (more…)
Mystery Photo: Third Street Patriots
This image, found on eBay and still available for sale as of July 3, has “609 W. 3rd Dr. Duluth” written on the front. It looks as if the famous Duluth Incline Railway is in the background, which would seem to verify the photo was indeed shot on West Third Street. (more…)
Postcard from the Ruins of the Chambers House
The caption on this undated postcard suggests that it shows the ruins of American Fur Company’s trading post at Fond du Lac, but it is actually the ruins of the home of Michael and Emily Chambers. (More on that in the comments.) (more…)
Happy 20th birthday to us!
Expressions of gratitude, reflections on past perfection and visions for the future might come later, but right now it’s time to party. Yes, Duluth’s Duluthiest website is 20 years old today.
Up the Incline from Superior Street in 1913
This postcard of the Duluth Incline was mailed 110 years ago today — June 24, 1913. (more…)
Northern Pacific Dock No. 4
This image from a 35mm Kodachrome slide shows Northern Pacific Dock No. 4 on Duluth’s waterfront in 1953 — 70 years ago. The location is where Bayfront Park is today.
Postcard from Bloomer’s Drive-in
Bloomer’s Drive-in was a roadside restaurant in Duluth, located near the ore docks and Wade Stadium. It opened in 1955, operated by Walter Bloomer and his younger brother Robert. It was sold in 1960. (more…)
PDD Transmission launches June 29
The first edition of Perfect Duluth Day’s weekly email newsletter, the PDD Transmission, will be sent out June 29. It’s free, but to receive it you must spend roughly 20 seconds entering your name and email address into a form. We hope you are up to the task.
Whether you need additional inspiration or not, a prize is dangling in front of you. (more…)
Selective Focus: Pre-summer PDDs
Instagram
69 likes, 3 comments - douglas.kilen on June 17, 2023: "Loon time. #fujifilmx_us #fujifilm_northamerica #fujifilm #fujixpassion #captureduluth #fujixlovers #fujifilm_xseries #fujifilmimages #midwestphotographs #meinminnesota #landscapephotography #captivatemn #bestofminnesota1 #onlyinmn #moodyinminnesota #minnesotaexposure #capturemn #thisismyminnesota #mnphotographs #perfectduluthday #visitduluth #AuthenticDuluth #yesduluth #destinationduluth #befromduluth #lakesuperiormagazine #minnesota365 #GoOverboard #sotastories #hey_ihadtosnapthat".
instagram.com
Select photos from Instagram spanning mid-May to mid-June 2023, all hashtagged with the name of a certain website. #perfectduluthday (more…)
Marty Marflow and the Melody Makers (featuring the Calhoun Sisters) – “Duluth St. Paul & Winona”
There are a few songs on Perfect Duluth Day’s list of songs with “Duluth” in the lyrics or title that are not available online. The one we highlight here is “Duluth St. Paul & Winona” by Marty Marflow and the Melody Makers (featuring the Calhoun Sisters), which was released 20 years ago. (more…)
Mystery Photos: Handsome Men at Ely Studio
The identities of the four gentlemen in this photo are not known, but the postcard is marked as having been shot at the Ely Studio. Photographer Cook Ely operated in Duluth from roughly 1895 to 1914, with a stint in St. Paul somewhere in the middle. Ely Studio was located at 2030 W. Superior St. — the corner where the Anderson Furniture building stands today.
This photo sold recently on eBay, where it was titled “RPPC Handsome Men w Hats Ely Studio of Duluth Studio Real Photo Postcard.”
Postcard from the Passenger Station at Duluth circa 1910
This early 20th century postcard shows the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Passenger Station, which was located in Duluth’s old waterfront warehouse district — basically between Amsoil Arena and the Ordean Building where I-35 is now.
Miller Music Company: Photos from the Estate of Ben B. Miller
One century ago the Miller Brothers opened Miller Music Company at 8 W. First St. in Duluth’s Spina Building. According to the Kathryn A. Martin Library’s Archives & Special Collections at the University of Minnesota Duluth, “Abe Miller was a violinist and the manager of the Duluth Symphony for 37 years beginning in 1932. Ben was an assistant manager of Northern Drug prior to launching the music store in 1922.” (more…)
Matchbooks from Duluth Hotels and Motels
Modern and fireproof, featuring the finest food and liquors, located at the center of everything and on the shore of beautiful Lake Superior, containing all possible comforts and conveniences, with lodging available for the whole family, they are the classic hotels and motels of Duluth.
This is the fourth in Perfect Duluth Day’s series of matchbook collection posts. As always, we remind everyone to please close the cover before striking. (more…)
Mystery Photo: Perhaps a Duluth Fraternal Group from 1908
This image is from a postcard mailed 115 years ago today — May 23, 1908 — available for sale on ebay. It’s been touched up a bit here for easier viewing. The obvious mystery is what organization the people in the photo belong to.
The item is listed on eBay as “1908 RPPC Duluth Minnesota College Club Vintage Postcard MN Land Point Idaho ID.” The “college club” part of that is clearly speculative. Many of the men have sashes and badges that suggest perhaps they are part of a fraternal club like the Odd Fellows. (more…)