The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw, sporting a new red hull, helped the Port of Duluth-Superior break into its 1999 shipping season. Story, Page 12.

Photo by Tim Slattery, Harbor Reflections

The M word The most substantial iron deposit in all of Minnesota’s locations is in the famed Mesabi Range. Or is it the Missabe? Or the Missabay? Or even the Mesaba? The name is borrowed from the Ojibwe, whose lore included a fabulous giant who made the sounds-like-Mesabi his dwelling place. The spelling used on an 1843 map was Missabay.Later came Mesabi. A road crossing on the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad was called Mesaba. (As is an avenue in Duluth.) The star-crossed Merritt brothers called their railroad the Missabe. These days the National Board of Geographic names — and who are we to argue — recognizes Mesabi as the correct spelling.

for more information, contact:
Lisa Marciniak
Port Promotion Manager
Duluth Seaway Port Authority
1200 Port Terminal Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
Tel: (218) 727-8525     Tel: (800) 232-0703     Fax: (218) 727-6888
©1999 Duluth Seaway Port Authority