St. Louis County Depot Offers Free Antique Appraisals March 18

Denny Mager of Northern Specialty will set up at the St. Louis County Depot this Wednesday, March 18, offering free informal appraisals of antiques and collectibles from noon until 3 p.m. The event, arranged by the St. Louis County Historical Society, is free and open to the public at 506 West Michigan Street in Duluth.

Mager will be stationed in the Union Lounge, outside the Board Room on street level. Some sources also reference the Depot's rotunda as the gathering point; organizers advise following event signage upon arrival. Registration is in person only and closes at 2:30 p.m., giving Mager enough time to work through everyone before the 3 p.m. end. Guests are called up in the order they register.

Each person may bring up to two items for what organizers describe as an "informal oral identification and evaluation." For pieces too large or fragile to carry, clear photographs accompanied by a description of any marks and labels will be accepted in place of the objects themselves. Past participants have, according to event organizers, "thoroughly enjoyed the appraiser's comments on what is always an interesting assortment of antiques and collectibles."

One important distinction: museum staff members are prohibited by professional ethics from making financial appraisals, and the Historical Society notes that sponsoring the event does not imply endorsement of any estate or appraisal service. The session is part of an ongoing public education program.

March 18 is one of eleven scheduled appraisal days running through the rest of 2026, each falling on the third Wednesday of the month, weather contingent. Remaining dates after March include April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, and November 18.

The St. Louis County Historical Society can be reached at (218) 733-7507, and the Depot's main line is (218) 733-7571. Additional information is available by emailing julie_at_thehistorypeople_dot_org.