Two Harbors in Lake County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

The Two Harbors Ore Docks

July 27, 2022

1. The Two Harbors Ore Docks Marker

Inscription.
The large steel structures protruding into Agate Bay are massive iron ore docks. They replaced the earlier and smaller wooden docks built between 1883 and 1896. Of the three steel docks only Dock 1 and Dock 2 are in service today. Dock 1 the closest to you, built in 1911, stands 75 feet above the waterline and is 1,344 feet long. The newest and largest steel dock, Dock 2, built in 1916, is 80 feet high and 1,368 feet long. Iron ore in the form of taconite pellets, which comes from the mines in Northern Minnesota by railroad cars, is dumped into the pockets which are on both sides of the docks. The taconite, also, can be dumped in the yard and brought to Dock 2 by a conveyor system. The 1,000-foot ore boats are moored along side the docks under the pockets and are loaded in about 7 hours. Each boat can carry from 55,000 to 60,000 tons of taconite pellets, which fills about 800 railroad ore cars.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.

Location. 47° 1.126′ N, 91° 40.221′ W. Marker is in Two Harbors,

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Minnesota, in Lake County. It is on Waterfront Drive south of South Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Located at the Duluth and Iron Range Depot Museum, on the south side of the east-side train. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 South Ave, Two Harbors MN 55616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region,

in the Iron Range,

and in the North Shore.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Great North Woods,

on Lake Superior’s North Shore,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hand Car, Velocipede, Sleigh, Station Wagon (here, next to this marker); First Ore Taken From A Minnesota Mine (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named First Ore Taken From A Minnesota Mine

The Two Harbors Ore Docks Marker, from the north image. Click for full size.

July 27, 2022

2. The Two Harbors Ore Docks Marker, from the north

Dock 1 can be seen in the background, to the right of the marker.

(a few steps from this marker); Ore Car #251, 1884 & Bobber Caboose #22 (#52), 1893 (a few steps from this marker); Duluth and Iron Range Depot (a few steps from this marker); Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Locomotive #3 (within shouting distance of this marker); Duluth Missabe & Iron Range Yellowstone Mallet #229 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to Paul H. Van Hoven Park (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Two Harbors.

Another marker is no longer nearby. D&IR Railroad Company Sleigh (was here, next to this marker but has been confirmed missing).

July 27, 2022

3. The Two Harbors Ore Docks Marker

The Two Harbors Ore Docks image. Click for full size.

July 27, 2022

4. The Two Harbors Ore Docks

From left to right: Dock 3, Dock 2, Dock 1.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2022. This page has been viewed 2,535 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 19, 2022.