Enger Tower (Duluth, MN)

Some of the best views you will find of Duluth, MN come from Enger Tower, which is located up on a hill in Enger Park. The ride to Enger Park winds up the hills of Duluth through residential neighborhoods and beautiful nature – it’s a nice ride! I’ve been to Enger Tower a few times now, and each time I’m always amazed at the views of Duluth and Lake Superior. Come along as I share some history and views from Enger Tower.

Enger Tower is an observation tower built in 1939 of native bluestone and costing $30,000. It stands 80 feet tall and is located at an elevation level of 531 feet above the surface of nearby Lake Superior. The tower features five stories and all stories feature windows which provide lookouts to get different views of the landscape in and around Duluth as you climb up the stairs. Because of its elevated position, it provides amazing views of the landscape around Duluth and Lake Superior, as well as of the Twin Ports of both Duluth in Minnesota and Superior in Wisconsin.

The tower is part of Enger Park which features a remarkable Japanese garden that is home to a peace bell from Duluth’s Sister City in Ohara, Japan. This park also provides walking paths with views of Lake Superior, St. Louis Bay, and Duluth Harbor, and there’s even the Enger Golf Course. The park can be reserved for special occasions such as weddings and family gatherings. On two of my visits I observed weddings that were taking place, and they were so beautiful with the park as the backdrop!

The land Enger Tower is located on was donated to the city of Duluth in 1921 by a Norwegian immigrant named Hagbert “Bert” J. Enger (1864-1931). Bert Enger immigrated to the United States from Norway in 1877 at the age of 13, and in 1903 he and his partner, Emil Olson, built a successful furniture business in Duluth’s West End (now the home to the Bent Paddling Brewing Company taproom and offices). When Bert Enger passed away in 1931, he left two-thirds of his estate to the City of Duluth for development of Enger Park. He specified that the development should include a lookout tower surrounded by beautified grounds and footpaths to accommodate tourists. The observation tower was built in his honor on the hill he donated to the city of Duluth.

On June 15th, 1939, a dedication ceremony was held at the Enger Memorial Tower to commemorate Bert Enger as well as to celebrate the completion of the tower. Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway were guests of honor at this ceremony, and the prince expressed great pride in the influence Norwegian immigrants have had on Duluth and America as a whole.

The original Enger Tower featured several balconies on the second floor which provided additional lookout spots for visitors to the tower. In 2011 the tower was renovated removing the balconies and their entrances were blocked with metal bars. The renovation also included replacing missing bluestone, electrical work, concrete patching, and roof work. The tower was re-inaugurated on October 17, 2011, by King Harald V of Norway (the son of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway who attended the ceremony in 1939) and his wife Queen Sonja.

The entry gate to Enger Park as well as the doors to the tower are closed every fall when the snow arrives, and they open annually on May 1^st, but may be opened earlier depending upon weather conditions.

Be sure to check out Enger Tower during your next visit to Duluth! The views in the fall are especially beautiful with the changing of the leaves!

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