Every great city has a surplus of things that makes it special, and Superior, Wisconsin is no exception! If you’re looking for a place to visit with eclectic style and gorgeous views, take these fascinating facts with you.
Did you know…
Superior’s first log cabin was built in September of 1853 along the Nemadji River. This was the same time that the locks and ship canal in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan began construction! This marked the beginning of Superior’s bustling shipping industry.
Superior is home to the third-largest municipal forest in the United States.* It’s made up of 4,400 acres and is the best remaining example of a boreal forest. *per capita.
Superior may once again be the hub of a passenger train system running between the Twin Ports and the Twin Cities. Superior was served by a passenger rail until 1984 at the Superior Union Station. Amtrak is working on making this dream become a reality (and if you’re a local, you know how long we’ve been wishing for this).
Superior features one of the largest inland ports in the U.S. Every year roughly 800 ships coast through the vast freshwater sea of Lake Superior hauling over 35 million tons of cargo. The ships often anchor in the lake and can also be seen passing through the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth; Superior’s cool twin (port) sibling.
Superior is home to the world’s only remaining Whaleback ship, the S.S. Meteor, built in Superior in 1896. This ship was a working ship and ended its shipping career in 1969 when it ran aground near Michigan. Due to the damage, the shipping company chose not to repair the ship. It was bought, repaired and converted into a museum in 1971.
Chicag-erior? Superior was on track to become what Chicago is today. In the 1800s Superior became a hub for the fur trade as the hype for water to rail trade arose. At one point the population of Superior was around 40,000 compared to the now 26,000. The Panic of 1857 was the downfall of the boom, but Superior has been continuously evolving and growing as each year goes by!
Superior is home to a well-preserved 1800s mansion. Fairlawn Mansion was a 42-room mansion once privately owned from 1890 to 1920 then became a children’s home for 42 years before becoming an open year-round public museum!
Superior got its name from French explorers because it is higher than the other chain of lakes. Explorers called the lake “Lac Superior De Tracy”.
Clearly, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the fun things to know about Superior. Hopefully, this tidbit gave you something fun to share with your friends and family next time you’re in Superior! Discover your own fun here; check out some Superior stays!
