Selfie takers in downtown Duluth no longer have to settle for outstretched arm shots or people squeezed into frame for group photos. With the addition of the city’s recently launched Selfie Stands, visitors now have the extra hand needed to snap the perfect Instagrammable shots.
Designed to hold phones both vertically and horizontally, these colorful and strategically placed cell phone holders highlight some of downtown Duluth’s best features. They provide perfectly framed photos, especially when paired with a phone’s timer feature.
The original idea for the selfie stands came from the city’s marketing department and Community Development Specialist, Jessica Bianchi, who wanted to do something unique for Duluth’s vibrant downtown area that would touch the whole community.
“Every day, I see people taking pictures around downtown Duluth,” she said. “So, I wondered how we could help them capture the best shots while also promoting our city.”
A fun, new concept
According to Jessica, since no other nearby community had launched this type of project, she wasn’t able to find a place to purchase what they needed for the selfie stands that would also hold up outdoors. In the end, the city had them custom-made, working with A1 Signs in Norcross to produce the final product.
Though new to the downtown Duluth landscape, the fun (and user-friendly) selfie stands are already being put to good use and sparking joy among visitors. The playful picture frame design stands out, grabbing the attention of passersby. Each one is aligned to capture a picture-perfect scene—from the majestic Duluth City Hall and prominent Eastern Continental Divide Marker to the culturally significant public art pieces like the Phoenix in Parsons Alley and the Historic Duluth Mosaic mural.
“In a way, it’s an extension of our public art downtown,” noted Jessica. “Photography is art, and downtown Duluth is such a beautiful focus to capture.”
Visitors are invited to check out the selfie stands next time they’re in downtown Duluth and see if they can find all of them.
