Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).

When we were planning our trip to Duluth, I told my brother that the only place I was adding to the "must see" list was Duluth Union Station or Duluth Depot. Not only is it a historic railroad station, it's home to a railroad museum and a historic train that runs various excursions along the north shore of Lake Superior. After reading numerous complaints about arguments on those train rides over masks and the nine-month-ago US election, we decided to drive along the north shore. I will shore posts from that drive in the weeks to come.

I found the Nomination form that was submitted in 1970 and accepted in 1971 to place the station on the National Registry of Historic Places (NRHP). I am including three paragraphs from the form below. In 1969, when train service ended, the building was being considered for demolition. It's evident that the group(s) working to preserve the building by placing it on the NRHP to save it from that fate. The building reopened in 1973 as The Depot St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center.

The station itself is beautiful and is home to several museum spaces. The large public spaces were open, but the smaller more specific museums were closed. The railroad museum was open, and we did tour. It's too much to add to this post, but if you've been following me for a while, you know it's coming

Embodying the characteristics of the French Chateau style, this unique public building is a pleasing part of the Duluth Landscape. The exterior is symmetrical about the entrance with steeply pitched roof masses building up to the towering central position. The windows are framed with limestone and each unit is subdivided by a limestone cross. A trio of arches make up the street level entrance, and an ornate pedimented dormer rises high above the central arch. The rectangular forms are relieved by projecting circular towers topped by gently flaring witches' hats. The total effect is that of an eighteenth-century French chateau.

This impressive French Chateau structure is recognized as a significant part of the heritage of the city of Duluth. Characteristic of the elaborate and massive buildings which were being built in the late 1800's the Depot reflected the affluence and prosperity of this quickly growing commercial center. It is an excellent example of the many majestic terminals constructed during the early days of the development of the powerful railroad companies. For Duluth it represented contact with the coasts of the nation. Designed by the distinguished and nationally prominent firm of Peabody & Stearns of Boston, the Duluth Union Depot remains truly unique and distinctive among the public buildings in Minnesota.

NRHP Nomination Form - Entry Number: 71.12.27.0009

I truly appreciate the last paragraph from the nomination form. I added the emphasis to the last sentence.

The Depot itself is to be converted into a public, non-profit cultural center housing the St Louis County Historical Society, the Duluth Art Institute, the Duluth Playhouse, and the Ohisholm Museum, This step is being planned to improve upon the maintenance of the structure while putting it in service to the community, no changes will be made which might destroy the architectural character, and certain details will be restored.

NRHP Nomination Form - Entry Number: 71.12.27.0009

Thanks for visiting Thursday Doors. I hope you enjoy the photos in my gallery and I hope you have time to visit the doors shared by the other participants.

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