Our History

For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland has grown and developed to meet the needs of youth ages 6 to 18 in our communities. With a demonstrated history of expanding in response to the increased needs of our kids, our mission – to empower and inspire all young people, especially those who need us most – is a reality.

Boys Club of Duluth opened our doors to boys ages 6 to 18 on the third floor of the Minnesota Power & Light building located at Superior Street and Garfield Avenue.

1971

Ben and Jeanne Overman donated an old church building located in West Duluth to serve as the new site for the Boys Club of Duluth.

1973

Girls were invited to join the membership, and the Club changed our name to Boys & Girls Club of Duluth.

1980

Boys & Girls Club of Duluth expanded to Lincoln Park School to serve youth during out-of-school hours.

1994

The Paul Staudenmaier Boys & Girls Clubs Foundation was established to benefit the Club.

1995

Boys & Girls Club of Duluth opened a second site on the Bois Forte Reservation at Lake Vermilion near Tower, MN.

2004

The Clubs assumed the operations of a third site in Superior, WI.

2008

The Clubs opened a fourth site in the Essentia Health Duluth Heritage Sports Center, named the Dave Goldberg Family Branch in recognition of Mr. Goldberg’s vision that the Heritage Sports Center should serve all youth.

2008

The Clubs opened a fifth site on the Bois Forte Reservation at Nett Lake, MN.

2009

The Clubs changed our name to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northland to better reflect the communities we serve in Duluth and throughout northeastern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

2009

The Clubs opened our new Teen Center located in the Lincoln Park Branch, featuring a theater and stage area, technology and learning center, and a recording studio for Club Members ages 13 to 18.

2015

The Clubs opened 2 new sites in Grand Rapids and Greenway, located in Itasca County at the RJE Middle School and Greenway High School to serve youth in the respective communities.

2017

The Clubs opened a new site in Hibbing, located in Greenhaven Elementary School to provide a safe, positive environment for youth to learn, grow, and just be a kid.

2022

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