Why Duluth’s Lift Bridge Attracts Tourists From Around The World

I remember being told when I was a kid that there were only 2 lift bridges in the world like the one in Duluth. The other one was supposed to be in France. It was only when I grew up that I realized there are a ton of vertical lift bridges around the globe. There are even 4 others in Minnesota and Wisconsin too.

So what makes Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge so special? Why is there a global fascination with the small city of Duluth, Minnesota? If you don't believe me, just check out the videos on my friend's page Vibe With Mike. He just started videoing ships come in a year and a half ago and already has nearly 40,000 subscribers. He's got millions of views from around the world and stories of people visiting from places like Wales to come just to see a ship pass under the bridge.

It's Iconic Image

Take a look at other lift bridges around the world. None of them look nearly as cool as Duluth's lift bridge. The original structure of the lift bridge, when it was a transporter bridge, helps set this one apart.

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There's Very Few Places To Get That Close To A Large Ship

We have 13 one-thousand-foot cargo ships on the great lakes. Many carry taconite pellets, others carry coal, grain, and even cement!

Read More: Is That Really A Jeep Boating Under The Lift Bridge?

What's special about Duluth's Lift Bridge is that the ships pass so close to the piers that you feel like you can reach out and touch them. That doesn't happen in most ports. Rarely can a person get that close.

It's A Coastal City In The Middle Of North America

Fun fact: Duluth is the furthest inland port in North America. That makes it the unique San Francisco of the Midwest. This is fascinating to a lot of people, and legends of the Great Lakes and shipwrecks like the Edmund Fitzgerald add a level of intrigue to the history of maritime shipping.

Tourists Travel From All Over The World Just To See The Lift Bridge

Vibe with Mike told me this morning about all the people he's had reach out to him and actually make the trip to Duluth. They come from places like Germany, South Africa, Australia, Norway, and Switzerland, just to name a few.

One of the families spent 26 hours of flight time and layovers to get to Duluth to see the Lift Bridge.

It's pretty amazing how something that we take for granted is a worldwide tourist attraction.