Glensheen Mansion


The directors here claim this 39-room mansion, built on a 12-acre estate, is the most-visited home in the Midwest. Whether that's true or not, a visit here to admire the sumptuous early-20th century design, the elaborate furnishings and careful craftsmanship is a worthy rainy-day activity. The general admission ticket entails an hour-long self-guided tour of the interiors.

The mansion was the site of a grisly 1977 real-life murder mystery, when the last surviving heiress to the home and family fortune, Elizabeth Congdon, and her nurse were killed here. The 83-year-old heiress was smothered in her sleep with a pillow-case. Congdon's son-in-law, Roger Caldwell, eventually confessed to the murders, carried out for money, but ended up serving just five years in prison. He later committed suicide.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Leif Erikson Park

2.01 MILES

This is a lakefront sweet spot with a rose garden, replica of Leif's Viking ship and free outdoor movies each Friday night in summer. Take the Lakewalk…

2. Hawk Ridge Observatory

2.37 MILES

It sits 600ft above Lake Superior and provides a grand view, especially between mid-August and November, when 94,000 raptors swing by as part of the…

3. Bob Dylan's Birthplace

2.79 MILES

The duplex is up a hill a few blocks northeast of downtown. Dylan lived on the top floor until age six, when his family moved inland to Hibbing. It's a…

4. Maritime Visitor Center

3.14 MILES

Located next to the Aerial Lift Bridge, the center has computer screens inside that tell what time the big ships will be sailing through. Cool model boats…

5. William A Irvin

3.15 MILES

Tour this mighty 610ft Great Lakes freighter and see what life was like carrying steel from port to port.

6. Aerial Lift Bridge

3.19 MILES

Duluth's main landmark raises its mighty arm to let horn-bellowing ships into port. About 1000 vessels per year glide through.

7. Great Lakes Aquarium

3.41 MILES

Children will enjoy the up-close-and-personal encounter with the freshwater fish – as well as various reptiles, invertebrates and otters – of the Great…

8. Enger Tower

4.43 MILES

The five-story, bluestone, octagonal tower is a defining Duluth monument, located in Enger Park. Terrific views of the harbor and Lake Superior reward…