Postcards from the Duluth YMCA

Featured here are five postcards showing the former Young Men s Christian Association building at 302 W. Second St. in Downtown Duluth. Designed by Frederick German and Leif Jenssen of the German Lignell architectural firm, the brick-and-stone landmark was built in 1908 to serve as the city s central YMCA. As the Y transitioned its spaces over the years the building served other community functions before it was razed in 1974. It s the current location of the St. Louis County Government Services Center s parking ramp. Today s Duluth Area Family YMCA Downtown Branch opened in 1966 at 302 W. First St. It recently integrated with neighboring facilities as part of the Lake Superior YMCA network. The postcards shown here are quite similar in style. All are illustrations likely made from photographs, and it s unclear if the differences such as the utility poles that are in two versions but not the others indicate different time periods or choices by artists to omit or include certain e