French-Canadian voyageurs began striking inland from the Head of the Lakes in the 17th century, searching for pelts to transport back down the Lakes to Montreal. Today, more than 300 years later, Duluth-Superior remains one of North America's most important ports, handling millions of tons of commodities during the ten months the Great Lakes are ice-free each year. Set against a backdrop of the key industries that helped build North America: iron and steel, forest products, grain, and coal, this book tells the fascinating tale of the development of the Twin Ports during three centuries of economic, technological, political, and social change. This is the story of the people at the Head of the Lakes who built, loaded, and sailed the ships that have made Duluth-Superior synonymous with Great Lakes maritime commerce.