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Behind the Scenes: Duluth’s Other, Rarely Shown Lift Bridge (plus Vista Star)

I’ve had a few requests lately from viewers I’ve talked to at the canal to show more areas of the harbor, so here’s one I thought people may enjoy! Built in 1991, the Minnesota Slip Bridge (aka the Little Blue Bridge) is an iconic part of Duluth Harbor, but is rarely shown in pictures or footage online. Unlike the more well known Aerial Bridge, the Slip Bridge opens to the sides, splitting in the center in what’s called a bascule lift bridge. It connects Canal Park to the Duluth Convention Center, Great Lakes Aquarium and Bayfront Park, and is very heavily trafficked with over 600,000 people crossing it annually. Its waterway is primarily used by small fishing and sailboat traffic, as well as the Vista Star and Vista Queen tour boats, as seen here. The 611ft long, 60ft wide museum ship William A Irvin can also pass through the bridge… barely. She fits through the gap with a couple inches to spare, but fortunately she only moves once every few decades. From its construction up until 2016 the bridge suffered a lot of mechanical difficulties, breaking down regularly in both the up and down positions, causing major trouble with boat and foot traffic. It took a several million dollar effort to fix the bridge to have it work reliably. The bridge is controlled by a small hut on the Canal Park side of the span. The Slip itself was long an industrial iron ore dock that was retired in the 1960s after most ships became too large to use it. It sat unused for years until the 80s after the construction of the neighboring Convention center and tourist district was constructed around the Canal. The Irvin museum ship was docked in it, while the other side was converted into a small marina. The bridge was added in 1991 after foot traffic had difficulty walking the rather long way around the backside of the inlet. As for the Vista Star, she is seen a lot, coming and going from the canal, often seen alongside larger ships, but is never really featured or talked about. Built in 1987, she is a modified 3 deck tour boat measuring 85ft long and has operated in Duluth her entire career. She features 365 degree views on all decks with an open bow, stern and upper deck, plus a downstairs bar. She often sails sightseeing, dinner and midnight booze cruises. Originally one of three large tour boats along with the much older and slightly smaller Vistas King and Queen, she is the flagship of the Vista Fleet. The original Vista Queen was retired in the 2000s after over 50 years in service and replaced by the smaller, current Vista Queen which is primarily used for charters and events (such as weddings or for VIP viewing at waterfront concerts). The Vista King was sold and moved to Milwaukee, WI during the Covid Pandemic where she remains today, leaving the Vista Star as the only main tour boat for Duluth at the moment, and she works hard to fill those shoes!