Enger Tower Needs Repairs 15 Years After Its Last Major Project

One of Duluth's biggest tourist attractions is in need of repair. Enger Tower, which sits on the top of the Duluth hillside overlooking Lake Superior, is one of the iconic landmarks in the Northland. However, it's starting to show its age, and repairs are needed for rusty steel stairs, deteriorating mortar, and cracking concrete.

2011 Enger Tower Revitalization Project

When I heard about the repairs being needed because the tower is so old, I vaguely remembered a big project on the tower years ago. I did some digging and found the 2011 Enger Tower Revitalization Project that did much of the same repairs they are discussing again, 15 years later.

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That project cost $372,000 and included work on both the interior and exterior tuck-pointing, replacing missing bluestone, patching concrete, roof repairs, balcony work, and fixing rusted metal gates. The Rotary Club of Duluth also donated $100,000 for the LED lighting system, which has allowed Enger Tower to light up in different colors to mark special events.

Asking For $20,000 Grant For Assessing Repairs

The City Council discussed the requested $20,000 briefly in Thursday night's agenda meeting. Councilor David Clanaugh asked what the prospective source of funding would be once the city gets to the work stage on this project.

City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Manager said they typically don't go for grants this small, but it's part of a strategy. The $20,000 would be used to hire a historical architect to design the repairs. She continued that the Minnesota Historical Society also has future grant funding opportunities for whatever they find. So if they can get ahead of the project early and get it funded, they can go back to the Minnesota Historical Society for funding to make good on the assessments.

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The council will vote on the Enger Tower restoration in a future council meeting.