DULUTH, Minn. — Duluth is known for its beautiful views of the city, but one location stands out from the rest.
“They once called it the Finnish Riviera,” said Tony Dierckins. “You can’t walk through Duluth without getting caught up in its history.”
Now it is known as Enger Park, named after Norwegian immigrant Bert Enger. He was a furniture salesman who, upon his death in 1931, gave the city money for a park on the hill. The catch was that he also wanted to have a watchtower built.
It used to be called Lookout Mountain.
The top of the tower is five stories high, but it is also 160 meters above sea level. From there you can see most of Duluth and about 25 miles into Wisconsin.
Dierckins is an author at Zenith City Press. He has written about the Enger Memorial Tower and says the 85-year-old building is made of stone found on site. And when the $30,000 tower was completed in 1939, it caught the attention of Prince Olav and Princess Martha of Norway.
“The Prince and Princess of Norway came and dedicated this facility,” Dierckins said. “He was proud of how the Norwegians had come to the United States and made a home for themselves.”
About 5,000 people attended this dedication. More than 70 years later, in 2011, the Norwegian King and Queen visited, this time for the rededication of the tower and a $100,000 makeover. A makeover included the addition of LED lighting that acts as a beacon for visitors.
“And now the entire tower can be bathed in different colors of light. For example, when Prince died unexpectedly, the tower was bathed in purple,” Dierckins said.
“I love coming up and looking at the ships and you can see far out into Lake Superior. That’s why I like coming here,” said Ari Robbins of Duluth.
Robbins and her dog Zepellin are among the thousands of park visitors each year who take advantage of the new and improved tower.
“This is definitely the best view in Duluth,” Robbins said.
And it seems like every step in the tower has its own story. A place that stands out, regardless of the time of year or time of day.
“This is one of the few places in Duluth where you can see a sunrise and sunset,” Dierckins said. “It’s a great place.”
More than 25% of Duluth is parkland, including Enger Park.
