Someone Turned Downtown Duluth Into An Epic ‘Minecraft’ Map

I absolutely love it when people make a video game version of Duluth. One of my favorites was when someone created a 'Left 4 Duluth' version of the popular zombie apocalypse first person shooter game 'Left 4 Dead'. You can check out that video here.

'Minecraft' is a 3D sandbox game that was released in 2011 and is still going strong with a huge fanbase from kids to adults who play the game. What's cool about the game, is there are no required goals to accomplish it which allows players to have a large amount of freedom in choosing how to play the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmB9b5njVbA

Some people create amazing masterpieces like creating popular landmarks. Someone even created the William A. Irvin in 'Minecraft' a few years ago. The game is composed of pixelated 3D objects that represent various materials such as dirt, stone, ores, tree trunks, water, and lava. Someone also created a Wiki page for Duluth in 'Minecraft' that depicts Duluth as:

Duluth is a port city on Lake Superior in Minnesota. The waterfront Lakewalk trail passes along Canal Park, with views of the 1905 Aerial Lift Bridge. The landmark connects the city to the Park Point sandbar. The Great Lakes Aquarium includes salt- and freshwater animals. Housed in a former train depot, Lake Superior Railroad Museum features vintage locomotives. Glensheen is a 1908 mansion on a vast lakeside estate.

Which is spot on, however the page was never finished. I was scrolling across some video game forums where I happened to find a user named rbsanford who created a pretty sweet Downtown Duluth in 'Minecraft'. The user created it back in 2013, but it was still sweet to check out. It did state that it was a work in progress, but it's way better than anything I could create in the game.

'Minecraft' Downtown Duluth vs. Real-Life Downtown Duluth

'Minecraft': Downtown Skyline

"The 2013 skyline, as seen about fifty feet above Interstate 35."

'Minecraft': Depot

"The Union Station building, otherwise known as the Depot. This model doesn't do the real building justice, but it's as close as I could get. It used to be an immigrant processing center, kind of like Ellis Island, then became a passenger rail hub for Northern Pacific and Great Northern. Now it is the city's heritage and arts center and is home to various museums, including the LSRM."

Real-Life: The Depot

For only being able to use cubes, the user did a great job capturing the historic building.

'Minecraft': Duluth Public Library

"The current Public Library, a beautiful domed building built by Carnegie."

Real-Life: Duluth Public Library

There weren't any windows added, but still a phenomenal job only using cubes.

'Minecraft': The Radisson

"One of the most iconic buildings in the Duluth skyline, the Radisson towers at 15 stories, one of the tallest buildings in the city."

Real-Life: The Radisson

Not going to lie, I would definitely stay in the 'Minecraft' version of the iconic hotel.

'Minecraft': Ordean Building

"The Ordean Building, one of my personal favorites."

Real-Life: The Ordean Building

The building was sold back in 2019 for $1.2 million, and it looks great in 'Minecraft'.

'Minecraft': Century Link Building & AT&T Cell Tower

"Two more iconic buildings: to the left is the Century Link Building, and to the right is the AT&T cell tower, which is now actually in the act of demolition, but I decided to recreate it in it's prime."

Real-Life: Century Link Building & AT&T Building

The AT&T tower has since been removed, and it looks like the buildings were switched, but the buildings are still there.

'Minecraft': DPS & Harbor Center Buildings

"The DPS and Harbor Center Buildings (the DPS being the one with the diagonal wall, the Harbor Center being the big red one)."

Real-Life: DPS & Harbor Center Buildings

Another job well done and my aunt actually used to live in the red apartment building here.

'Minecraft': Famous Downtown Buildings

"Some of the most famous buildings in the city, from left to right: the Wells Fargo Building, the Lonsdale Building, the Alworth Building, the Torrey Building, the Medical Arts Building, and the Providence Building."

Real-Life: Famous Downtown Buildings

Probably one of the hardest photos I had to take since I couldn't get a straight on pic. Also, sorry for the light glare as I took it on the skywalk.

'Minecraft': Holiday Inn

"The Holiday Inn Building, with the top of the Sellwood Building in the foreground."

Real-Life: Holiday Inn

I couldn't get the top of the Sellwood building in the foreground, but it still looks pretty good.

'Minecraft': US Bank Building

"Another one of my favorites, the US Bank Building."

Real-Life: US Bank Building

Again, I apologize for the skywalk picture, but what a cool looking building even in 'Minecraft'.

'Minecraft': Lake Superior Square

"Lake Superior Square with the Minnesota Power Building next to it. The large white building across from Superior Street is Lake Superior Place."

Real-Life: Lake Superior Square

What a beautiful part of downtown and captured so well in 'Minecraft'.

'Minecraft': Tech Village

"I forget the name of this building accenting the busy intersection of Superior St. and Lake Ave., however the curved facade is always perfect for photographing."

Real-Life: Tech Village

Ah yes, the unforgettable Tech Village building makes an appearance in the 'Minecraft' version of downtown Duluth.

'Minecraft': Overview

"That concludes the tour, I'll wrap up this wall of pictures with another overview of downtown."

Real-Life: Overview

While not an exact picture since I couldn't get any higher, but I think we get the gist of it.

How cool is that?! Even though it was made a few years, I think it's awesome and pretty accurate. I wish the user would have continued to make more of Duluth in 'Minecraft'. Check out bad reviews of Canal Park below: