Great Lakes Archives - Cascade Vacation Rentals

1 01, 2020

William A Irvin Is Moving!
William A Irvin Is Moving!

William A Irvin Is Moving!

Martha Finley2021-10-06T16:00:23+00:00Duluth, News & Updates|

Note: This is a story from 2018. The William A Irvin has since returned and resumed normal operations. We know where and we know how, but the when is a mystery. However, soon, the North Shore will witness a historic moment that you may be lucky enough to catch, if you happen to be in the right place at the right time. After more than three decades of mooring in the harbor of Duluth, the SS William A Irvin once again will sail the Great Lakes. Sort of. The move, which will likely happen in the pre-dawn hours on an [...]

1 01, 2020

Edna G Tugboat
Edna G Tugboat

Edna G Tugboat

Martha Finley2021-08-09T19:59:02+00:00Activities & Attractions, History, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Built-in 1896, the Edna G Tugboat was the last steam-powered tugboat that operated on the Great Lakes. It sits at 110 feet long, with a 23-foot beam, and has a 1000 horsepower engine. The engine generates a bollard pull of a whopping 30 tons (bollard pull is the nautical equivalent of horsepower)! During its operation, the engine would use roughly 25 tons of coal per week, or 5 tons per day. That equates to about 12 shovels full of coal that had to be manually shoveled into the boiler every 10 minutes! Edna G was built by the Cleveland Shipbuilding [...]

1 01, 2020

Two Harbors Iron Ore Docks
Two Harbors Iron Ore Docks

Two Harbors Iron Ore Docks

Martha Finley2021-10-05T19:47:01+00:00Activities & Attractions, History, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Have you seen the strange man-made structures that tower over Agate Bay in Two Harbors and wondered what they were? If so, you’ve come to the right place. The structures are the Two Harbors Iron Ore Docks located inside the bay. They offer protection via the two breakwaters located between the bay and Lake Superior. The breakwaters total about 2,500 feet and help stop prevailing waves from the south. Two Harbors Iron Ore Docks are made out of steel and is over 1300 feet long and seven stories tall. The immense size of the docks allows ships to pull alongside [...]