Linda and Ron will have a ringside seat if they want it for the tall ships visit to the Duluth harbor in a couple of weeks. Usually the Letneses travel to Europe to do their sight-seeing, but this time they can stay put to see an international treat.The ships come Aug. 1 - 3, just days before Sosie Shearer arrives from California for her week-long sojourn.
Despite soaring gas prices, tourists will flock up I-35 to see and tour the ships during their three day layover in the storied harbor. Hotels and motels are already sold out. It is part of Minnesota's low-key 150th anniversary celebration.
The Pride of Baltimore II, from its namesake city, and the U.S. Brig. Niagara of Erie, Pa., will stop in Duluth on their 10-city tour of the Great Lakes. These two War of 1812-style reconstructions will be joined by other maritime visitors for a three-day festival of music, entertainment and food with a focus on the maritime history of Duluth and the Great Lakes.
The third ship is the Schooner Madeline, a reconstruction of a Great Lakes vessel that sailed the upper Great Lakes 150 years ago.
The Pride of Baltimore II, with its working cannons, was commissioned in 1988. It succeeded the original Pride of Baltimore, which sank in a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986, taking her captain and three crew members down with her.
The Niagara was also built in 1988. It has propulsion engines and modern navigation equipment, but without modern amenities. During the summer, Niagara is sailed by a crew of 16 professionals, supplemented by 20 trainees willing to live out of a duffel bag.
The ships will be in the Duluth Harbor Aug. 1-3. Public tours are scheduled. Visit http://www.decc.org/ or call 1-218-727-4344 for details.
