Duluth

Overview

Gallery

Itinerary

• This tour begins in the parking lot of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, located at 600 Canal Park Drive, Duluth. To begin the tour, exit the parking lot and turn right onto Canal Park Drive.nnNote: The tour is over 48 miles long, with more than 47 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.nnNew, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

• Local legend says in 1870 every man, woman and child in Duluth brought out their shovels and dug the canal here in just three days! In reality, a huge steam dredger did most of the hard work. Not quite as fun, I know!

• Mining magnate Chester Congdon built it in 1908. It later passed to his daughter Elisabeth, who lived out her twilight years there. That is, until June 27th, 1977, when she was found murdered in her bedroom. Someone had suffocated her with a satin pillow. Nearby was Elisabethu2019s nurse, bludgeoned to death with a candlestick.

• As we head for the outskirts of Duluth, you might be wondering where the city got its name. Well, for that we have to meet French explorer Daneil Greysolon Dulhut. He set up camp in this area in 1679, proudly planting the French coat of arms.

• This overlook also features a series of panels highlighting the history of commercial fishing on the lake. Itu2019s big business! The fish sanctuary across the street isnu2019t open to the public, but it does brisk business catching rainbow trout, raising their offspring, then returning them back to the lake. Itu2019s a cycle that goes on every year and helps maintain our marine ecosystems.

• To see the marker, park in the turnout ahead. Otherwise, continue nutrients from the soil. And just like the trees, wildflowers have intricate root systems of their own. Their roots help stabilize the soil. They then use these nutrients for their own growth, then return the nutrients to the soil when they decompose.

• This was the seedy part of town where men could be u201crelieved of their pay.u201d At its height in the late 1800s, there were 22 saloons in just a two block radius! Thatu2019s certainly a lot of places for these men to whoop it up and share wild tales.

• Thankfully, workers completed the 3-year project without incident. With the tunnel completed, drivers no longer had to go miles out of their way, driving on a narrow two-lane road that ran right along the cliffu2019s edge. Talk about a white-knuckling drive! One mistake and the car would have plunged right into the lake.

• On a clear morning in June 1928, Captain Edward Smith was commanding the SS America, a passenger steamship with 47 on board. The passengers included a number of wealthy citizens heading to their summer vacation homes on Isle Royale.

• The name actually comes from the Objiwe name for this place. They call it Shabonimikani-zibi, or River Place of the Gooseberries. And they have a very special connection to these small tart berries.

• As this part of the earth shifted, volcanic eruptions spewed lava onto the surface. The lava filled in cracks and crevices, then hardened into rocks called igneous rocks. The type of stones found at Ionau2019s Beach are specific kinds known as rhyolite and felsite.

• Just ahead is a perfect spot to take a photo of the Split Rock Lighthouse. In fact, millions of people have taken a photo from this very spot, making this one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world!

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.

• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.

• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.

• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.

• Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.

• More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.

• Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.

• Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.

• Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.

• Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

• The appu2019s audio will play through your caru2019s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the appu2019s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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