Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Lester River Fish Hatchery

The Lester River Fish Hatchery is a former federal fish hatchery in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was built at the mouth of the Lester River in the 1880s to propagate fish for the Lake Superior commercial fishery. The hatchery closed in 1946 and the facility was sold to the University of Minnesota Duluth, which used it as its Limnological Research Station. The surviving four buildings are noted for their Stick and Shingle Style architecture, forming a distinctive landmark to local residents as well as tourists heading to Superior's North Shore.

Last revised
Jul 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
327 w
Citations
6
Source
Lester River Fish Hatchery
Alternative names
Limnological Research Station
US Fisheries Station, Duluth
The lab building at the Lester River Fish Hatchery
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Location6008 London Road, Duluth, Minnesota
Coordinates46°50′10″N 92°0′26″W / 46.83611°N 92.00722°W / 46.83611; -92.00722
AreaLess than 3 acres (1.2 ha)
Built18882
ArchitectRobert Ormsby Sweeney2
Architectural styleStick/Shingle Style
NRHP reference No.780031261
Added to NRHPNovember 28, 1978

The Lester River Fish Hatchery is a former federal fish hatchery in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was built at the mouth of the Lester River in the 1880s to propagate fish for the Lake Superior commercial fishery. The hatchery closed in 1946 and the facility was sold to the University of Minnesota Duluth, which used it as its Limnological Research Station. The surviving four buildings are noted for their Stick and Shingle Style architecture, forming a distinctive landmark to local residents as well as tourists heading to Superior's North Shore.2

In 1978 the hatchery complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the name US Fisheries Station, Duluth, for its state-level significance in the themes of architecture and education.3 It was nominated for exemplifying the Stick and Shingle styles popular in Minnesota during the 1880s and for its long association with studies conducted on Lake Superior.4

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Dierckins, Tony; Maryanne C. Norton. "Lester River Fish Hatchery". Zenith City Press. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  3. "U.S. Fisheries Station-Duluth". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  4. Nagle, Liza (October 6, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form: Limnological Research Station". National Park Service. Retrieved July 7, 2018. With seven accompanying photos from 1977
External links

Media related to Lester River Fish Hatchery at Wikimedia Commons