The Aerial Bridge...

...over the Duluth Ship Canal has been called “Duluth’s Eiffel Tower” and the “gateway to the world,” but no matter what lofty labels poets and politicians apply to it, Duluth built its famous bridge for one simple purpose: Crossing the canal.

For the first time in one book, the complete story of Duluth’s aerial bridge, from cutting the canal through the bridge’s 100th anniversary, separating facts from myths while creating a vivid picture of the life of Duluth’s iconic landmark.

(Scroll down to purchase the book or to see a schedule of upcoming Holiday 2008 book signings)

A literal and yet figurative bridge...

In 1871 the citizens of Duluth finished cutting a canal through Minnesota Point, turning the isthmus into an island and splitting the fledgling city in two. It would take almost thirty-five years before a safe, permanent, and truly unique bridge was built to cross the canal and reunite Duluth with the community of Park Point, making the city whole again.

In Crossing the Canal, author Tony Dierckins brings to life the difficulties encountered by the residents of Park Point and other Duluthians while building an aerial transfer bridge and later converting it into an aerial lift bridge, including the stories of the operators who have maintained Duluth’s famous bridge through its first one hundred years.

Praise for Crossing the Canal

“Crossing the Canal is the definitive history of Duluth’s Aerial Bridge.”

— Aerial Bridge Supervisor Ryan Beamer, in his introduction of the author
at the LSMM Gales of November Conference in Duluth, 2008

“...Required reading for anyone who loves [Duluth].
Not only is it an informative read, but a fascinating one as well.”
( Click here. to read the entire review.)

— Matthew R. Perrine, Duluth Budgeteer

“Possibly every Aerial Bridge fact and photograph in existence has been crammed into this busy book by Duluth writer and publisher Tony Dierckins. Dierckins’ book is rich with photographs, architectural sketches, maps and oddball factoids.”

— Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“New Book Gets Lift Bridge Story Right”
( Click here. to read the entire review.)

— Canal Park Times

Media Coverage of Crossing the Canal

Author Tony Dierckins with Eric Eskola and Cathy Wurzer on Twin City Public Television’s “Almanac.” (December, 2009)
( Click here. to watch the video clip.)

Author Tony Dierckins on Minnesota Public Radio with Cathy Wurzer

Packed with bonus features:

• Over 250 Images: maps & diagrams, plans & blueprints, paintings & etchings, modern & historic photos

• 25 Companion Stories: daring exploits, notorious events, lighthouses & foghorns, the canal dig & other legends

• Diagrams of how the aerial lift bridge works

• Biographic sketches of the bridge bosses

• A complete list of bridge operators

• Lifts by month from 1905–2005

• A guide to harbor horn signals

Plus extended photo essays by:

• Dennis O’Hara: Modern color photos of Duluth’s aerial bridge, canal, and lighthouses:

• Janet Karon: A dramatic black & white, close-up study of Duluth’s aerial bridge.

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