History in a Pint: "Bicentennial Boom" Rescheduled for 6PM on 9/3/26

The St. Louis County Historical Society is thrilled to announce the rescheduling of the Bicentennial Boom presentation.

Hosted at the historic Lake Superior Railroad Museum inside the St. Louis County Depot, this is the last of our three-part installment—collectively themed “A Summer of Storytelling”—with an engaging blend of local triumph, humorous misadventures, and poignant wartime reflections.

Attendees can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere complete with a cash bar while diving deep into the history and narratives that shaped our region and nation.

Bicentennial Boom | 6PM on Thursday, September 3, 2026

“Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed the ‘Spirit of 76”

While Duluth’s economic struggles of the early 1970s are well-documented, its incredible Bicentennial boom is a story waiting to be told. In 1975 and 1976, dozens of diverse ethnic festivals celebrated Northland heritage, sparking major community improvements— including the renovation of the St. Louis County Depot itself. Duluth civic and commercial leaders jumped on the bandwagon early, making Duluth the very first official Bicentennial Community in Minnesota.

Join Dr. Thomas Saylor, Professor of History Emeritus at Concordia University, St. Paul, for this "Star-Spangled" edition. Dr. Saylor is an accomplished author for the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and is currently penning a commissioned series on the 1976 American Bicentennial. He will explore how local leaders embraced this unique cultural milestone to spark lasting regional success.

Event Details At-A-Glance

• Where: Lake Superior Railroad Museum, St. Louis County Depot (506 W. Michigan St., Duluth, MN)

• Features: Live storytelling, Q&A sessions, and a cash bar.

• Admission: Free and open to the public

Come for history, stay for the pint. For more information about the Summer of Storytelling series, please contact the St. Louis County Historical Society.

About the St. Louis County Historical Society

The general nature and purpose of the Society shall be the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the history and prehistory of St. Louis County and the State of Minnesota.

In addition to collecting and preserving objects of material culture and historical research material, the Society shall maintain and operate a museum and materially participate in the collections and operations of a historical research center adequate to serve the region encompassing St. Louis County and northeastern Minnesota.

The images above were provided by the speaker for publicity related to this presentation.