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Slides, Postcards and Photographs from the collections of the Duluth Public Library |
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Slides, Postcards and Photographs from the collections of the Duluth Public Library |
The Aerial Lift Bridge, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Minnesota, was constructed in 1904-1905 as the Aerial Ferry Bridge. Before that time, Park Point was only accessible by ferry boats and, during the winter months, a temporary suspension bridge. The original Aerial Ferry Bridge consisted of much of today's structure but, instead of the lift span, a suspended car, or gondola, ferried people and vehicles on a one-minute trip across the canal. The gondola could carry the equivalent of a loaded street car, two loaded wagons with teams, and 350 people. The gondola made twelve trips per hour between 5:00 a.m. and midnight and two trips per hour from midnight until morning. The lift span was added in 1929-1930 to handle increased traffic. At that time, the bridge operators moved from running the gondola to working in the control house in the center of the span. The bridge first lifted for a vessel on March 29, 1930. The Aerial Bridge lifts an average of 5,500 times a year, and over forty times a day during the summer months. It is owned and operated by the City of Duluth.
 Drawing of the footbridge suspended across the canal during winter months in the 1870s. |
 Original Aerial Ferry Bridge with the gondola making its one-minute crossing of the canal. |
 Gondola loaded to its 125,000 pound capacity. |
 Crowd leaving the Aerial Ferry Bridge on the Park Point side. |
 Bridge operators on the car platform of the gondola. |
 Ship passing under the Aerial Ferry Bridge. |
 Postcard with a view of the Aerial Ferry Bridge and the harbor. |
 Construction of the lift span in the late 1920s, looking north on Lake Avenue. |
 Construction on the lift span in the late 1920s, looking south on Park Point. |
 Passenger steamer South American passes under the bridge in the 1950s. |
 Aerial photograph of the bridge, by Wayne Gatlin |
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