| description: | The Progress Of The Twin Cities Fort William And Port Arthur (Now Both Known As Thunder Bay) On Lake Superior'S Thunder Bay Fluctuated With Their Changing Port, Rail, Grain And Industrial Facilities, But Through Them Came An Increasing Flow Of Commerce. With Improvement Of The St. Lawrence And Other Canal Systems More And Larger Ships Reached To Lakehead. The 180 Foot Ss " Rosedale" Became On July 18,1888, The First Steel Steam Vessel To Carry Cargo Into The Heart Of North America. The "Rosedale" Took Cement To Chicago On Her Maiden Voyage And 1,300 Tons Of Coal From Ashtabula To Fort William. Image From A Painting By Rex Woods |