Two drag performers in bright makeup, costumes, and wigs.

Culture

Full of character – and characters

Historic. Retro. Down-to-earth.

Experience the people, places and events that help make this place what it is. From the arts and architecture to museums and music, dancing, drama and much more.


Interior of Thirsty Pagan Brewing. There is a bar and many wooden tables.

Pubs with Character

A man and woman are out to eat at a supper club. They smile at each other as they eat their meals and drink wine.

Supper Clubs

Group of people drinking beer at the cedar lounge while a band with a guitar, double bass, and keyboard perform on stage.

Jam Out

A painted rainbow crossing along Tower Avenue shows the city's pride.

LGBTQ+ friendly 

Superior has a reputation for being a welcoming, inclusive community and LGBTQ+ friendly destination. It’s the Twin Ports’ original home to the annual Labor Day Pride celebration and parade, with safe havens for visitors looking to experience this Wisconsin town any time of year. Whether that’s for the outdoors, shopping, foodie forays or hittin’ the club and bar scene. 

Students in the outside commons area walking around at University of Wisconsin Superior.

College town

With thousands of college students in Superior, young energy influences more than just the nightlife, food and music scene. Check out the University of Wisconsin – Superior for live theater, dance, art exhibits, special events and big time sports action.  

Antique lamps and lights and Christmas ornaments hang from the ceiling in an antique store.

From art to antiques 

Want to take home something truly Superior? Shop the galleries featuring original artwork by makers in the region. Visit a studio. Or spend a day thrifting, junk hunting and exploring the many antique shops. You might just find that thing you’ve always wanted.  

A painting of an older-type sailboat with five sails in wavy water with blue and gold clouds.

Painting our past

Stories of Superior history

Stroll the Superior Public Library to view 35 murals by Carl Gawboy, renowned artist, scholar and member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The murals depict local history in painted stories—from the Ojibwe story of the beginning of the earth to 20th century milestones like the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The 729-foot ship departed from Superior’s Allouez Bay iron docks on a beautiful day, November 9, 1975, only to sail into one of the worst storms ever to occur on Lake Superior. The Fitz was the largest and most recent shipwreck on the big lake they call Gitchigammi, taking the lives of 29 mariners.

More murals

Local artists have covered numerous businesses with lively, lovely artworks. How many do you notice while traveling the town?

Find out more about Superior

An older man and his grandson examining an old world war two plane.
An older man and his grandson examining an old world war two plane.

Tours & Museums

The original Meteor that traveled to the Chicago World Fair is moored to an old turnpike in the St. Louis River. There are hundreds of people on all three decks.
The original Meteor that traveled to the Chicago World Fair is moored to an old turnpike in the St. Louis River. There are hundreds of people on all three decks.

History

The exterior of the Cedar Lounge and Earth Rider Beer at night from across the road. A slow shudder speed has car lights streaked across the image which is quite stunning.
The exterior of the Cedar Lounge and Earth Rider Beer at night from across the road. A slow shudder speed has car lights streaked across the image which is quite stunning.

Nightlife

The interior of Gronks Bar in Superior. There's beer signs on the walls and the bar is made of wood and steel and there are stools all along the bar.
The interior of Gronks Bar in Superior. There's beer signs on the walls and the bar is made of wood and steel and there are stools all along the bar.

Bars & Breweries

A man in a green shirt and green life jacket and tan pants is fishing from the front of his fishing boat.
A man in a green shirt and green life jacket and tan pants is fishing from the front of his fishing boat.

Boating & Fishing

But wait, there’s more!

A closeup of a man holding a red accordian.

Holy squeeze box 

For accordion aficionados in the United States, this place is a big deal. Weird Al Yankovic would probably say “squeeze me!” if he stepped inside the World of Accordions Museum, the world’s largest and most historic collection of such instruments. A visit to this little known Superior gem might just make you feel like dancing. To polka. Tango. Or the 

A very tall fire tower with the sun shining on it and reflecting back at us.

Grand Views In Gordon

Sightseeing in Superior means getting out into the countryside and small towns. For a historic high, visit one of Wisconsin’s only remaining fire towers that’s open to the public. Check the calendar for events before you go, or rent the cabin at the base of the 100-foot tall Gordon Fire Tower for a chance to experience history with breathtaking views of the upper St. Croix River.  

An empty stage/bandstand made out of logs and rich wood at Lucius Woods performing arts center in Douglas County.

Lounge at Lucius Woods

Music and nature lovers will feel right at Lucius Woods Performing Arts Center. Its open-air performing arts amphitheater is home to Music in the Park, an annual outdoor summer concert series on the shore of Lake St. Croix. What’s more, it’s situated in a county park with a campground, hiking trails, beautiful swimming beach, and log and fieldstone architecture that reminds you just how special a Wisconsin getaway can be.

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