Built 1892 Opened 1892 Added to NRHP 9 November 1972 | NRHP Reference # 72001488 Area 1 ha | |
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Location Lake Ave. and 2nd St.
Duluth, Minnesota Headquarters Duluth, Minnesota, United States Architectural styles Romanesque architecture, Richardsonian Romanesque Similar Aerial Lift Bridge, Spirit Mountain, Canal Park - Duluth, Duluth Entertainment Conventi, Goldstein Museum of Design | ||
The Historic Central High School in the U.S. city of Duluth, Minnesota was built in 1892 of locally mined sandstone at a cost of $460,000. It features a 230-foot clock tower with chimes patterned after Big Ben in London; the clock faces are each 10½ feet in diameter, overlooking the Duluth harbor. Architectural details such as gargoyles are the work of George Tharna. In 1972 the school board ceased using the building for classroom instruction, possibly because the hungry boilers would burn up to 8 tons of coal per winter day. The Central Preservation Committee and other interested citizens saved the building and created an 1890s classroom museum within the structure. Duluth Central High School moved to its new location and the historic structure was renovated for administration use. Subsequently, the alternative school, Unity High School began occupying some space in the old building. Their original mission was to develop alternative teaching and learning methods, and enrollment was by referral only.