St. Louis County Historical Society

06/16/2026

Got an antique, a quirky collectible, or... a vintage chicken suit? 🐔✨
This Wednesday, June 17, is Antique Appraisal Day at the St. Louis County Depot! Bring your favorite treasures down for a FREE professional appraisal.

The St. Louis County Historical Society has teamed up with Denny Mager of Northern Specialty—an absolute expert in antique appraisal—to help you discover what your items are worth.

📅 When: Wednesday, June 17 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Please arrive before 2:30 PM to register in person)
📍 Where: The Union Lounge (just off the east side of the Great Hall inside the Depot). Just follow the event signage!
🔎 Limit: 2 items per person.

🏃‍♀️‍➡️ Stick around after your appraisal! Head up to the 4th floor of the Depot to check out the incredible Grandma's Marathon 50th Anniversary Exhibit. While you're there, you can dive into the history of the race and finally learn the legendary story behind the Chicken Suit!

See you Wednesday! 👋

06/15/2026

On this day, 106 years ago, three Black men—Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie—were lynched in downtown Duluth.

Each year on June 15, the community gathers at the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial plaza for a time of solemn remembrance, reflection, and a commitment to racial justice.

To learn more about this history, we have shared an article featuring both primary and secondary sources in the comments below.

06/14/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18fpuTNLjf/

John Werner Memorial 5k honors legacy of Northland veteran

https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2026/06/14/john-werner-memorial-5k-honors-legacy-northland-veteran/

06/12/2026

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06/11/2026

You know that Bicentennial 🇺🇸 stuff you have in a box? Why not dig it out and ask our volunteer antique expert, Denny Mager to have a look. Our Antique Appraisal is Wednesday, June 17, noon to 3 pm in the Union Lounge at the St. Louis County Depot. This brass bell, from the museum collection, is inscribed "Dedication New Lyric Block July 4, 1976 Duluth Bicentennial Horizon Project." The dedication combined big development and Bicentennial spirit.⛵️Learn more about the Spirit of 76 at Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76"

06/11/2026

We had a question about the source of the granite used to construct the St. Louis County Jail, designed by Holstead & Sullivan and added in 1923 to the Civic Center. The Duluth News Tribune (11/29/1922) reported that the county commissioners stipulated that the contractor, Jacobsen Brothers, procure the granite from the quarries of John Clark of Rockville (which is near St. Cloud). In constructing city hall, there was much debate about building in limestone or granite (more expensive).🏛️

06/08/2026

Who was at Canal Park to in 1976 to the Christian Radich, a full rigged three masted steel hull ship from Norway? Did they just show up? Come to Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" to find out.
The Christian Radich sailed to the United States in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration. She was in New York on July 4, 1976. The vessel was built for training sailors for the Norwegian merchant navy, and did so for many years. Courtesy of the MN Minnesota Digital Library. Check out

06/05/2026

A lot of Bicentennial energy came out of the St. Louis County Depot which housed the historical society and Bicentennial Commission. Come to our July 16 History in a Pint Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" to get the full story.
Illustration courtesy of Minnesota History Magazine.