Crossing the Canal

Crossing the Canal by Tony Dierckins. paperback edition. ISBN: 9781887317337.

The aerial bridge over the Duluth Ship Canal has been called "Duluths Eiffel Tower" and the "gateway to the world," but no matter what lofty labels poets and politicians apply to it, Duluth built its famous bridge for one simple purpose: Crossing the Canal. In 1871 the citizens of Duluth finished cutting a canal through Minnesota Point, turning the isthmus into an island and splitting the fledgling city in two. It would take almost 35 years before a safe, permanent, and truly unique bridge was built to cross the canal and reunite Duluth with the community of Park Point, making the city whole again. Crossing the Canal tells the complete story of the bridge, from cutting the canal through the bridges 100th anniversary, separating facts from myths while creating a vivid picture of the life of Duluths iconic landmark. A finalist for the Minnesota Book Award.