The Many Birthdays of the Zenith City
Duluth celebrated its centennial in 1956—so how is it we are celebrating its sesquicentennial in 2020? Because of Duluth’s complex early history, that’s why. In fact, Duluth could arguably have six different birthdays. How? Why? Well, you’ll just have to read about it in ZCP publisher Tony Dierckins’s second of eight installments on Duluth’s early…
Read MoreProhibition and Duluth‘s Long, Complicated History of Liquor Laws
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Volstead Act going into effect, essentially the start of national Prohibition, on January 17, 1920. But by then, Duluth had already been dry for over two years—and when Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Duluthians still couldn’t get a drink. You see, the Zenith City has a long and…
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How Duluth became “Duluth”
Have you ever wondered how Duluth became “Duluth,” the anglicized version of the name of an ambitious and often arrogant 17th-century French soldier? You can find out by reading the article “How Duluth became ‘Duluth’” by Zenith City’s Tony Dierckins, which appeared in the Duluth News Tribune yesterday, Sunday January 12. And when you’re done,…
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2020: A Big Year in Historic—and Notorious—Duluth Anniversaries
A slightly belated welcome to 2020, a year stuffed full of important—and notorious—anniversaries for the Zenith City. This year marks Duluth’s 150th Anniversary of first becoming a city in March 1870. There were many Duluth “firsts” that year, and we will celebrate many of those with our “This Day in Duluth” entries. I’ll also be…
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All Books 25% Off All Winter! Gift Sets 33% Off!
From now until April 2020 all of our books are on sale for 25% off, and if you buy one of our bundles, you’ll save 33%! History Gift Set: All 4 of our illustrated histories for just $65 (Regularly $97) Glensheen Gift Set: All 3 three of our Glensheen-related books for $40 (Regularly $62) Preview…
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ZCP’s Tony Dierckins signing at Bookstore@Fitger’s this Saturday
Zenith City Press publisher Tony Dierckins will be signing copies of his six Duluth history book this Saturday, December 7, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bookstore@Fitger’s within the Fitger’s Complex. Due to last weekend’s blizzard, Duluth’s homegrown retailers missed out on Small Business Saturday. Here’s your chance to show your support of…
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Duluth: An Urban Biography coming April 2020
Zenith City Press publisher Tony Dierckins has a new book coming out in April 2020—and it won’t be published by Zenith City Press. The good folks at Minnesota Historical Society Press are publishing a series of “urban biographies” of Minnesota’s four largest cities—Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth—and Dierckins is writing the Duluth book. It…
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Free presentation on Oliver Traphagen, Duluth’s Quintessential Architect
Zenith City press publisher Tony Dierckins will present on “Oliver Traphagen: Duluth’s Quintessential Architect” Thursday, October 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Duluth Public Library’s main branch in downtown Duluth. The event is FREE and the first lecture in the library’s new Maryanne Norton Lecture Series. Norton co-authored Lost Duluth—a finalist…
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Workin’ on the Rail Road…book…
Thanks to everyone who turned out to Glensheen for our annual February of Wednesday night Zenith City on Taps—and of course thanks to Glensheen’s fantastic staff for hosting the event and making it free for anyone who wants to attend, and to Bellesio’s for bringing the beer and wine. Next year’s presentations will include “Prohibition…
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Free this Wednesday: “Naturally Better: 150 Years of Brewing Beer with Lake Superior Water, 1869–2019”
Unfortunately, due to Wednesdayday’s snowstorm, this week’s Zenith City on Tap about Duluth’s 1889 City Hall was cancelled. But there’s still one more chance to catch a free night of live history at Glensheen. This year’s final Zenith City on Tap—on Wednesday, February 27—is titled Naturally Better: 150 Years of Brewing Beer with Lake Superior Water,…
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