One Of Minnesota’s First Radio Stations Celebrates 100 Years With Mayoral Proclamation + Party

Duluth Minnesota's WEBC AM is kicking off a celebration of 100 years of broadcasting across Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, standing as one of the first radio stations to sign on in Minnesota.

Signing on in the summer of 1924, WEBC is the second commercial radio station and the third overall radio station in Minnesota to go on the air since the inception of radio broadcasting technology.

Getting on the air before WEBC in the state was the University of Minnesota's KUOM (Radio K) and WLAG (now known as WCCO) in 1922.

WEBC  earned the nickname "The President's Station" as President Calvin Coolidge spent time in the region, fishing and enjoying time outdoors in Northwestern Wisconsin. The station pivoted its programming to cater to the President while he was in the area to make sure he was caught up on the latest news and happenings around the nation and world.

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Over the years, the station's format has moved from music formats to talk radio, and has been a sports talk station for many years. It became an affiliate of Twin Cities radio station KFAN in 2020, offering KFAN's popular lineup of sports talk figures, Minnesota Vikings football, and regional high school sports play-by-play on the station's original signal at 560 AM along with a low-power FM translator at 106.5 FM.

As part of the kickoff of the celebration of 100 years of broadcasting, KFAN's Power Trip Morning Show came to Duluth for a live, on-location broadcast of their show. In addition, Duluth City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Arik Forsman provided a mayoral proclamation on behalf of Mayor Roger Reinert declaring May 17, 2024 "WEBC Day in Duluth" while also offering the "keys to the city" to the Power Trip's cast of characters while visiting Duluth.

The celebration of 100 years of broadcasting will continue as WEBC celebrates the official anniversary of signing on the air on June 1, 2024.

Here are some photos from today's celebration with the Power Trip and proclamation.