Welcome To Duluth Lost Lanterns of the Lake Ghost Tour
Local legend speaks of a monstrosity that lives in the sewers beneath a tribute park, a manifestation to punish those who tainted the Native land. The frights continue throughout Duluth, with a timeline peppered with tragedies to thank for its phantom population.
The Wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald
Superior may just be a lake, but it’s not just any lake. It’s a force of nature — a 350-by-160-mile graveyard for hundreds of shipwrecks. Among the battered vessels lying on Superior’s bed is the infamous SS Edmund Fitzgerald, split down the middle by the unrelenting power of the lake.
Prepare to dive beneath the surface (figuratively, of course) on a Duluth Lost Lanterns of the Lake Ghost Tour to hear the ill-fated tale of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. All 29 of her crew were lost that chilling November day in 1975. In the frigid depths, though, something stirs, fueled by the natural energy coursing through the large body of water.
While transporting materials to Cleveland on a calm and pleasant day, the SS Arthur M. Anderson received a troubling message over the radio. A frantic voice came through, a distress call from the middle of a turbulent storm. When the radio fell silent again, Arthur M. Anderson’s crew was left perplexed, if not frightened, after the voice identified himself as a crew member of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
What Will I See?
Visit Duluth’s Most Haunted Locations, Including:
- Historic Union Depot – This rare architectural wonder is fascinating not just for its exterior design and angled peaks. Within, shadows dart across the light, and lingering memories of years gone by echo as if no time has passed at all.
- Duluth Public Library – Libraries are the last place for chaos. Yet, the pair of specters seen moving through the stacks can’t help but cause trouble, knocking books off shelves and toying with whatever poor soul works the night shift.
- Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum – An oddity of Lake Superior, the purpose-built concrete structure was meant to revolutionize transportation across choppy waters. Today, it’s a conduit for the undead, attracting the lost souls of lives claimed by the lake’s unrelenting waters.
Lake Superior’s Floating Mausoleum
At the height of Duluth’s population boom, shortly after World War I, the canal that welcomed trade ships proved too small for the daily volume. Delays slowed down industry on the ground, inciting visionaries like local businessman Harvey Whitney to seek out ways to revolutionize trade across Lake Superior.
Gaze out at the choppy waters of Gitche Gumee with Twin Ports Ghosts to spot a concrete structure with unusual properties — Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum. Intended to help ease the influx of inbound trade, Whitney began construction on a new unloading dock, complete with a conveyor belt system. Superior remained persistent, though, and the rough waves prevented the project from being completed.
Today, the remnants of the concept serve a different purpose. For reasons unknown, Uncle Harvey’s Mausoleum attracts the spirits of those lost to Lake Superior. Ethereal entities see it as a beacon, and often, curious warm-bodied locals who venture out to the slab find themselves amongst spine-tingling apparitions.
Why is Duluth so Haunted?
A Museum’s Maritime Manifestations
Though Lake Superior has claimed many vessels, the William A. Irvin was not one of them. In fact, the resilient cargo carrier and luxury ship made many trips across the infamous lake, hauling impressive loads that earned the vessel its fame. Yet still, there’s more than one haunting presence trapped aboard the old carrier.
Explore the depths of Duluth’s history with Twin Ports Ghosts by honing in on the service of the William A. Irving. Now an exhibit and seasonal haunted attraction near the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, the iconic ship has more than manufactured scares within its hull.
Though only one death has been officially linked to the Irvin, the specter of William Wuori is not alone. He may be responsible for the flickering lights and banging, but there’s at least one more apparition. The youthful giggles of Maggie are an unexpected addition to Irvin’s small collection of ghosts. Why she’s there is a different story, one that has yet to be uncovered.
Duluth’s Most Haunted
Standing atop Enger Tower, a stone monument overlooking the city and lake below, an unnamed man made a decision. Plagued by a nagging desperation and sorrow, he jumped from the top, putting an end to his anguish within seconds. No locals knew who he was, and despite the passage of over 70 years, his identity still eludes Duluth. His spirit, however, remains bound to the tower, forever a fixture of the city’s outskirts.
Two lives were taken within the walls of Glensheen Mansion in 1977. Their violent end ripped the lifeforce from their bodies, leaving a lasting imprint on the stately and elegant home. As is common with such tragedies, the Glensheen Mansion became a haunting spot for the victims, their shadows seen moving throughout the large building. Some even believe a third spirit inhabits the building, a photographed haunt dressed in period attire that doesn’t match that of the murdered women.
Former tuberculosis wards across the United States later become milestones for urban explorers. Nopeming Sanatorium, tucked away in the dense forestry surrounding Duluth, once housed the afflicted, working with limited resources to provide some semblance of care. Regardless, many died, some to the disease and others to the desperation for relief. The energy within Nopeming is heavy, weighed down by the years of suffering and tragic events like the Mother’s Day Massacre.
* This is a walking tour and we do not enter privately-owned buildings or private property *
