August 3, 2021
SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE
3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd, Two Harbors, MN
“Split Rock Lighthouse is a lighthouse located southwest of Silver Bay, Minnesota, USA on the North Shore of Lake Superior.” Wikipedia
I got up early one morning to drive two hours in order to take a guided tour of the Split Rock Lighthouse complex. The guided tour is given only twice a day, at 9 am and 5 pm. I’m really glad that I made the effort to get to the lighthouse for the 9 am tour. Our guide was very friendly and quite knowledgeable. I learned a lot about running a lighthouse and life on the North Shore of Lake Superior in the early 1900s.
Completed in 1910, the Split Rock Lighthouse was built with money appropriated by Congress in order to help guide ships in the dangerous waters of Superior’s north shore. For the first 15 years the only way to access the lighthouse was by water. Three keepers manned the lighthouse during the shipping season of May through December. Each keeper had their own house on the complex, which was often visited by the keeper’s family during the summer months.
Today the complex includes a visitors center which shows a video describing the history and operation of the lighthouse. There are also trails taking one down to the Superior shore, which afford some great views of the lighthouse from below.
Smoke from Canadian wild fires filled the air and diminished the views of Lake Superior from the lighthouse, but I’m sure the vistas would have been breathtaking on a clear day. I would highly recommend visiting Split Rock Lighthouse if you are ever in the Lake Superior north shore area.
The recovered anchor of one of the ships wrecked near Split Rock before the lighthouse was built.
Split Rock Lighthouse
This building housed the engines that compressed the air in order to sound the fog horns.
The fog horns that were sounded when the visibility was low.
Climbing to the top of the lighthouse.
A view of the lens and light bulb in the lighthouse. The light is lit only twice a year now.
The three houses used by the keepers and their families.
An Edison Amberola in the keeper's house.
The toilet in the keeper's house.
A view from the shore.
My feeble attempt at being artistic with the camera.
Someone built a tower of rocks on the shore. I was impressed that no one was knocking it over.
Another view from the shore, notice the kayaker just off of the point.
A wayside area about a half mile from the lighthouse. On the backside of this sign was a little shelf for a cell phone and directions on how to take a selfie of you with the lighthouse in the background.