Waikiki Walking Tour

Things to do on the Tour Include:

• Welcome

  Start the tour by turning right onto Canal Park Drive from the Visitor Center parking lot.

• Canal Park

  Legend has it that the people of Duluth dug the canal in three days, but it was actually a steam dredger that did the job.

• Duluth

  Named after French explorer Daniel Greysolon Dulhut, who set up camp here in 1679, Duluth was rich in wildlife and fish, making it a business hub for fur traders.

• Glensheen Mansion

  Glensheen Mansion, built in 1908, is known for the 1977 murder of Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse, involving a family inheritance motive.

• The Murder Trials

  Marjorie Congdon and her husband Roger were tried for the murders. Roger was found guilty and later committed suicide; Marjorie was acquitted but had subsequent legal troubles.

• Lake Superior

  Lake Superior, named "Le Lac Superieur" by French explorers, holds 10% of the world's fresh water and is known as "Gitche Gumee" by Indigenous people.

• Aquatic Life in Lake Superior

  The lake is home to many fish species, but invasive sea lampreys have caused significant harm since their arrival in 1938.

• Land of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe)

  The Ojibwe tribe, known for their birch bark canoes and wild rice harvesting, were the earliest inhabitants of this area before European settlers arrived.

• Shipwrecks

  Lake Superior became a vital shipping route, leading to many shipwrecks, including the schooner Nucleus in 1869. Remains of shipwrecks are still being discovered today.

• Chimney Rock Winery

  Chimney Rock Winery is a leader in sustainability, using renewable energy and natural predators for pest control, thanks to its ideal volcanic ash soil.

• The Origin of 'Napa'

  The name ‘Napa’ comes from the Wappo people and has various translations, including ‘fish,’ ‘village,’ and ‘grizzly bear.’

• Napa River

  The Napa River, crucial for the valley’s vineyards, was restored through a community project that reintroduced beavers, a keystone species.

• Trefethen Family Vineyards

  Trefethen Family Vineyards boasts the only 19th-century three-level wooden gravity flow winery in the valley, operating since 1886.

• Black-Owned Wineries in Napa

  Napa’s first Black-owned winery, Brown Estate, opened in 1980, paving the way for more diversity in the wine industry.

• POWs in Napa

  During WWII, a POW camp in Napa housed German soldiers who were put to work in the vineyards.

• Festival Napa Valley

  Festival Napa Valley is a summer music and arts festival, celebrated for its diverse performances and connections to local wine culture.

• Sparkling Wine

  Only wines from the Champagne region of France can be labeled ‘Champagne.’ Napa produces excellent sparkling wines, often labeled as brut, extra sec, demi sec, or doux based on sweetness.

• Cuvaison Winery

  Cuvaison Winery, located in the cooler Los Carneros region, is known for its sparkling wines and cool climate grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

• Domaine Carneros

  Domaine Carneros, founded by the Tattinger family from France, produces authentic Champagne-style sparkling wines using the méthode traditionelle.

• Wine vs. Weed

  Cannabis farming in Napa Valley is contentious, with debates over water usage and reputation. Some wineries are exploring cannabis partnerships.

• Bliss

  The iconic photograph ‘Bliss,’ the default background on Windows XP, was taken here on the border between Sonoma and Napa Counties.The Disappearance of the SS Bannockburn

• Mishipeshu

  The Ojibwe people believe in Mishipeshu, a mythical sea monster living in Lake Superior. This creature, part lynx and part dragon, is said to stir up storms and command other water creatures.

• French River Wayside Scenic View

  This scenic viewpoint offers a great spot to dip your toes in Lake Superior and learn about the history of commercial fishing through informative panels.

• Longfellow’s Epic

  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Song of Hiawatha" celebrates the Ojibwe people and the beauty of Lake Superior, though the poet never visited the lake himself.

• Coastal Forest Ecology

  The unique ecosystem of the North Shore is dominated by white cedars, white pines, and spruces. These trees thrive thanks to the shallow soil and cool climate, with each species adapting to survive harsh winters.

• The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

  The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a fierce storm on November 10, 1975, inspiring Gordon Lightfoot's famous song. The wreck remains one of Lake Superior's most tragic and well-known disasters.

• Recovery of Edmund Fitzgerald

  Four days after the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, debris was found 535 feet below the surface. The wreckage was confirmed in May of the following year by an underwater vehicle.

• Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway

  In the 1800s, iron ore was transported by the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway, thanks to pioneers like the Merritt Family, who built rail lines to support the booming iron industry.

• Wildlife

  This area is home to white-tailed deer, moose, black bears, woodland caribou, red foxes, and beavers. Keep your eyes peeled for these creatures as we drive!

• Northern Lights & Stargazing

  With minimal light pollution, this region is perfect for stargazing. During winter, you might even catch the northern lights, a stunning display of geomagnetic storms lighting up the night sky.

• Pierre the Voyager

  Look out for Pierre the Pantless Voyager, a 20-foot tall statue rescued by locals and relocated to this spot after his original home closed down.

• Two Harbors

  Once a wild town with 22 saloons in two blocks, Two Harbors tamed its rowdy reputation with the establishment of a police department and churches.

• Samuel P. Ely Shipwreck

  On October 29, 1896, the schooner Samuel P. Ely struggled against a storm, and despite the crew’s efforts, it wrecked near Two Harbors.

• Highway 61

  Highway 61, starting in New Orleans, stretches nearly 1,400 miles and follows the Mississippi River, providing scenic views along one of America’s longest roads.

• Minnesota's State Gem

  Lake Superior agate, Minnesota's state gem, formed over a billion years ago and features beautiful red or orange bands created by iron.

• Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel

  Completed in the 1990s, the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel was a precise construction project that replaced a dangerous cliffside road with a safe passageway.

• SS America

  In June 1928, the SS America struck a reef under the inexperienced command of First Mate John Wick, ending its journey abruptly.

• The Encampment

  The Encampment, a private summer resort for the wealthy, protects the last old-growth forest in Minnesota, undisturbed by logging.

• The Fire of 1918

  A devastating fire in October 1918, sparked by a passing train, destroyed 38 towns and claimed 453 lives, leaving a lasting impact on the region.

• Colors of Fall

  In September, the leaves transform into vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges as trees stop producing chlorophyll, showcasing the region's stunning fall foliage.

• Pancake Ice

  Pancake ice forms on Lake Superior in temperatures between 20 and 32 degrees, creating circular ice pads that resemble pancakes.

• Gooseberry Falls State Park

  Gooseberry Falls State Park, named by the Ojibwe, offers hiking, camping, and picnicking opportunities amid a landscape rich with gooseberries.

• The Gales of November

  The Gales of November bring dangerous winds and waves, making it a perilous time for sailors, as experienced by the Edmund Fitzgerald.

• Lona's Beach

  Lona’s Beach, covered in pink rhyolite and felsite stones, showcases the geological history from volcanic eruptions a billion years ago.

• The Madeira Shipwreck

  In the Mataafa Storm of November 28, 1905, the schooner-barge Madeira crashed into Gold Rock, but crewman Fred Benson heroically saved his crewmates.

• Construction of the Lighthouse

  Built in 1909, Split Rock Lighthouse required workers to hoist 310 tons of materials up a 110-foot cliff using a pulley system.

• Scenic Overlook Split Rock Lighthouse

  The overlook offers a perfect photo spot of the Split Rock Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world.

• Life at the Lighthouse

  The first keeper, Orren “Pete” Young, lived in isolation, maintaining the Split Rock Lighthouse and ensuring ships’ safety from May to December.