Local Author Separates Fact from Fiction at “Duluth’s Greatest Myths” Event
DULUTH, Minn. — If you’ve spent time in Duluth, you may have heard that the canal was hand dug by “100 stout men” in 1871, or perhaps that there are tunnels beneath the Glensheen Mansion.
Those questions and more were addressed by local author Tony Dierckins at the “Duluth’s Greatest Myths” event held at the Glensheen Mansion.
Dierckins debunked several popular Duluth myths while giving guests a history lesson along the way. Some of the common myths include who Jean Duluth Road was named after and whether there was ever actually a grandma behind Grandma’s Restaurant.
The process of addressing these myths often starts with simple research. Many can be debunked with an internet search and by digging through historical records.
“You can search online for newspapers dating back, and we can actually verify things. I can look back to Duluth in 1870 and check the newspapers. Was there a story about 100 guys digging a canal in two days? It seems like that would have been a pretty big story. Did we have more millionaires? Well, let’s find out,” said Dierckins.
He explained that myths often come from bits and pieces of history, with many different origin stories. However, many of them tie back to the city’s culture and the Duluthian spirit.
Dierckins added, “When things looked bleak, and it seemed like we weren’t going to get our canal, the story says people took it upon themselves to literally start shoveling. You can’t keep a Duluthian down, right? Those are great stories you cling to because they say something about your community.”
Beyond myth-busting, the event aimed to reinvigorate interest in visiting Glensheen and encouraged people to experience the mansion in a new light.
“Glensheen is a really big piece of Minnesota’s Gilded Age history. While it focuses on the Congdons, it also serves as a place where people can experience broader Minnesota history,” said Kendall Lotto, marketing and communications specialist at Glensheen Mansion.
By exploring and debunking myths, the event reminded attendees of the importance of learning the real stories behind Duluth’s history while having fun.
As for the rumored tunnels under the Glensheen. That has been debunked. There aren’t any.
