Community Gathers to Celebrate the St. Louis River Estuary

A sample of some of the artwork on display at the event. Photo by Kieley Jacobson

The St. Louis River stretches 192 miles and flows into our very own Lake Superior. During an event on March 5 at Wussow’s Concert Cafe, community members came together to celebrate the river. 

The St. Louis is accompanied by the largest freshwater estuary in the United States through the St. Louis River Estuary located between Duluth and Superior. For thousands of years it was called home by Native American communities, followed by explorers, traders, and missionaries. 

The river eventually became a central hub for transportation and shipping, helping develop the Twin Ports to what they are today while simultaneously bringing economic growth to Duluth and Superior. In the late 1980s, the estuary was designated as an area of concern by the International Joint Commission under the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. 

The event was put on by the St. Louis River Alliance, a non-profit organization that leads restoration projects and community events to connect people to the river. Thanks to the help of the St. Louis River Alliance and other organizations, the estuary is no longer designated as an area of environmental concern. 

The event was titled “The River Speaks: Art of the Estuary” and began with a reception period with people mingling around while admiring artwork that community members had submitted. 

All of the artwork was inspired by the river, featuring many different mediums such as acrylic and oil painting, photography and mixed media. Included with the artwork was a painting in the center of the wall depicting the St. Louis River from an aerial view that community members had helped decorate at a previous event. These works will remain at Wussow’s through the end of March.

An open mic night followed the reception, allowing  people to express their appreciation for the river. Some people told stories, some sang songs, some recited poetry. There was an original poem all about insects in the estuary, a rendition of the song ‘Moon River’ where the audience was welcomed to sing along, fun stories about estuary exploration, and an old Finnish song about the beauty of the earth.

It was a beautiful night full of an outpouring of love for the St. Louis River and the community that surrounds it. The St. Louis River Alliance has created a welcoming community full of friendly people. Their next event is April 16 from 5-6:30pm at the Superior Public Library.