From The Archives: Duluth’s 19th-Century Squares

Before Duluth created its remarkable, expansive park system beginning in 1889, town “squares” were set aside as public greenspaces — but few were ever used as parks, nor had much of a public to enjoy them. So as we greet April and warmer months to come we take this week’s dive into the archive for an excerpt from Duluth‘s Historic Parks: Their First 160 Years. So if you’re interested in the history of Duluth‘s Cascade Square (pictured), Portland Square, Fond du Lac Square, Franklin Square, Lafayette Square, and Lakeside’s Grosvenor, Manchester, Portman, and Washington squares, just click HERE.

The pavilion and observatory built in Cascade Park in 1895, photographed ca. 1900. (Image: Duluth Public Library)