Underrated Local Attractions

The Twin Ports Area is a storied and scenic locale. From Glensheen and Fairlawn on land and the William A. Irving and the S.S. Meteor on the lake, alongside the Duluth Art Institute and the Playhouse Theater, there are plenty of places in Duluth and Superior for the historically and artistically inclined, but some of these attractions are more notorious than others. In 2024, a survey taken by Lake Superior College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter showed that the following museums and theaters were known by fewer than 30% of respondents.

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

Located on E First St. here in Duluth, the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum is one of seven manuscript library museums started by Dr. David Karpeles and his wife Martha to house his collection of historical documents. Admission is free and if you have any old manuscripts or historical documents lying about, the museum is happy for you to contact them about making a material donation to their collection.

The Nordic Center

Also in Duluth, situated on N Lake Ave., The Nordic Center was founded in 2011 to highlight culture from all of the Nordic countries. Their collection and programs pull from a variety of media from lectures to classes to folk crafts, they host events such as monthly Nordic Literature Book Club, classes on the Nordic languages, and on March 6th will be opening their “Signs of Spring” exhibit featuring the work of Minnesotan artists.

Douglas County Historical Society and Northern Spotlight Theater.

Now heading across the river to Superior, on the corner of John Ave. and N 11th St. you’ll find the Douglas County Historical Society. The Douglas County Historical Society is admissions free and houses exhibits related to the history of Douglas County, WI. Current exhibits include the photography of David F. Barry, a recreation of President Coolidge’s office in the old summer whitehouse, and an exhibit on the history of Tower Ave.

Also located in the building is the Northern Spotlight Theater, which aims to promote theatrical opportunities to Twin Ports area residents with a focus on youth theatrical experiences.

World of Accordians

Our final stop in Superior, located in the old church at the corner of Belknap and Hammond, is the World of Accordions museum, housing 1,300 instruments within the accordion family. The museum also holds classes on accordion repair, held by the curator, Dr. Helmi S. Harrington, who developed the curriculum while teaching at Red Wing Technical College. The museum also hosts lectures and is home to a collection of documents related to music history.

Dorothy Molter Museum

For those looking for a day trip, the Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely showcases life in the Northwoods in the early to mid 20th century through the life of Dorothy “The Root Beer Lady” Molter, who ran a resort on the Isle of Pines in the middle of the century and became famed in the area for brewing her own root beer. To this day, the museum coordinates the brewing of “Dorothy’s Isle of Pines Root Beer” based on Molter’s recipe, which can be bought at the museum itself, but is also for sale at a number of Ely stores and restaurants.

By: Eleanor Baldwin