# Duluth Works

Duluth, MN · industrial · tier: draft · Retrofit Atlas record `n-cff0350c32` · release 2026-10-20

Canonical: https://retrofitatlas.org/industrial/mn/duluth-duluth-works/  
JSON: https://retrofitatlas.org/data/records/n-cff0350c32.json · Provenance: https://retrofitatlas.org/data/records/n-cff0350c32.provenance.json · API: https://retrofitatlas.org/api/v1/sites/n-cff0350c32

## Facts

| Field | Value | Provenance |
|---|---|---|
| Status | partial | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Strategy | redevelop, regreen | none |
| New use | industrial, logistics, office, other, retail | none |
| What is there now | Former steel plant site undergoing demolition, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment into an industrial park, with specific portions planned for warehouse and light industrial uses, and a photographic enhancement company's headquarters. | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Opened | 1916 | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Closed | 1981 | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Retrofit year | 1975 | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Acres | 1600.0 | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Original developer | U.S. Steel | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Redeveloper | U.S. Steel (demolition/cleanup), City of Duluth/DEDA, Ikonics, Duluth Port Authority | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |
| Public subsidy | $50,000 investigative grant | reported · model extraction, unreviewed |

## Anchors

U.S. Steel, Universal Atlas Cement Company

## Parties

- U.S. Steel (demolition/cleanup), City of Duluth/DEDA, Ikonics, Duluth Port Authority — developer (1975–)

## Timeline

- 1916: Opened
- 1975: U.S. Steel began to demolish many of the massive structures
- 1975: Retrofit: redevelop, regreen
- 1981: Closed
- 1984: The former Duluth Works steel plant site was put on the National Priorities List for the federally funded "Superfund" program.
- 2008: Ikonics announced it would develop 40 acres on the property to build a warehouse and move its headquarters.
- 2009: The State of Minnesota awarded the Duluth Port Authority a $50,000 investigative grant for redevelopment feasibility.
- 2023: The environmental cleanup was nearly completed.

## Background (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, shortened)

The Duluth Works was an industrial steel and cement manufacturing complex located in Duluth, Minnesota, United States, in operation from 1916 to 1981. The complex was operated by U.S. Steel. Officially, the plant's purpose was to supply the growing Midwest with steel finished products. Unofficially, they were built as part of a "gentleman's agreement" between U.S. Steel and the State of Minnesota to not impose hefty iron ore taxes on U.S. Steel in exchange for a fully integrated steel plant within Minnesota, whose mines furnished 80% of the ore to U.S. Steel.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth_Works

## Sources

- Duluth Works — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth_Works

## Cite

Retrofit Atlas (2026). "Duluth Works, Duluth, MN." Record n-cff0350c32, release 2026-10-20, tier draft. https://retrofitatlas.org/industrial/mn/duluth-duluth-works/ (accessed 2026-10-20).

```bibtex
@misc{retrofitatlas_duluthduluthworks,
  title = {Duluth Works, Duluth, MN},
  author = {{Retrofit Atlas}},
  howpublished = {\url{https://retrofitatlas.org/industrial/mn/duluth-duluth-works/}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Record n-cff0350c32, release 2026-10-20, tier: draft. Built on the Retrofitting Suburbia map (Dunham-Jones and Williamson) and the sources listed on the record. Accessed 2026-10-20}
}
```

Licence: research use only; terms undecided with the authors (https://retrofitatlas.org/licence/). Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0. Tiers: curated = from the authors' public map, not reviewed by them; draft = imported or model-extracted, unreviewed.