- [Tony] The canal had been an idea early Duluthians had since about 1858, when a survey was done.

You see, the smart thing to do was get your harbor behind Minnesota Point where the powerful waters of Lake Superior, you know, won't make it a dicey deal to tie up at the dock.

We got a bond from the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad, essentially a loan from Jay Cook to cut the canal itself, because that would benefit the railroad as well, as it benefits shipping traffic.

So the dredging tug Ishpeming with Colonel John Upham behind the wheel from the W.W. Williams and Company, started cutting through the canal along Portage Street, which was actually an ancient native American Portage called Onigamiinsing or "little Portage."

So with the ship canal in place, we could find safe harbor.

And this turns, Rice's Point into a huge industrial complex and all along the river, we had industry stretching all the way down to new Duluth.

The original bridge over the canal that was built in 1905, was based on a French design that ferried a gondola car back and forth.

That Renaissance beginning in the late seventies, Canal Park really took things over.

Now our tourism is centered once again and still it always on the aerial bridge.

- [Announcer] "The Slice" from WDSE WRPT,