09/07/2026
Do You Know About the History of Morgan Park?
The Morgan Park shoreline, in the Morgan Park neighborhood located off Grand Avenue between the Irving neighborhood and the Gary/ New Duluth neighborhood, has seen a lot of changes in the last couple of years. Because this once booming industrial town produced so much pollution, Morgan Park became a key spot in the remediation of the St. Louis Estuary.
The neighborhood of Morgan Park was built in 1913 and was a planned community for U.S. Steel. First named “Model City” the name was later changed to Morgan Park after U.S. Steels founder J.P. Morgan. Morgan Park was used as an example of a company town on a national level. The neighborhood included family homes, a boarding house, clubhouse, recreational facilities, general store, grade school, hospital, churches, and police and fire departments. The Morgan Park Company took on the responsibility of all outdoor maintenance including lawn care and snow removal, but if residents did not maintain the homes to company standards, they would be fined through deduction from paycheck. The neighborhood was turned over to the city of Duluth in 1933
https://mndigital.org/projects/primary-source-sets/morgan-park-u-s-steels-company-town-duluth-minnesota
The residential buildings in Morgan Park, many of which still stand today, were built of concrete blocks produced by the company's own cement plant. This cement plant caused white grit which only added to the pollution in the area. The Morgan Park industry, fueled by mining on the Mesabi Iron Range, closed down in the 1970s. The works was then owned by the City of Duluth, and most public company town buildings were torn down.
https://valleyofsteel.blogspot.com/2019/07/morgan-park-minnesota-united-states.html
Pollution from previous industry in Morgan Park includes, but is not limited to, lead and zinc. The first step of restoration focused on removing and/ or containing the contaminants and invasive species. The second step involved planting native species and creating 92 acres of green space that includes a section of the Waabizheshikana (Martin) trail.
https://www.stlouisriver.org/news/river-views-inside-look-at-waterfront-clean-up-effort-near-morgan-park
The Morgan Park Neighborhood is just a Hop, Skip and a paddle from Spirit Lake Marina. The peninsula, which was used during the industry era, can be reached by launching from the marina's beach, or passing though while experiencing the Choo-Choo Paddle. The restoration along the shore has created a prime birding area. The planting of native species, including many wild flowers, creates a great habitat for butterflies and other environmentally friendly insects. It is not uncommon to see fish jumping, and sturgeon breaching.
Find out how to explore this wonderful shoreline by Choo-Choo paddle or kayak and canoe rentals by calling or stopping into Spirit Lake Marina RV. You can also check out our website to book your next nature filled adventure.
121 Spring Street- at the bottom of the Riverside Neighborhood
spiritlakemarinarv.com
218-628-3578
