Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse www.mnhs.org/places/sites/srl/index.htm A historic site worth the time to go see is the Split Rock Lighthouse. Everyone needs to be guided at one point in their lives including those who need to steer the ships safely into port. Before the equipment was invented such as GDS, boats needed to see the large, brillant light coming from a true standing lighthouse. The Split Rock Lighthouse was completed in 1910 by the U.S. Lighthouse Service under the direction of Ralph Russell Tinkham. The construction is amazing with the remote location that the lighthouse needed to be placed on, which was over a barren cliff. The facility was built on 7.6 acres. It stands as a monument for not only guiding ships, but for the willingness of the common laborers to work in such isolated conditions. Why would one build a lighthouse in a desolate area? The answer is the shipments of iron ore were increasing rapidly in the Lake Superior area. In 1905, a single storm on November 5th damaged 29 ships. So many ships have wrecked in the area that Minnesota has developed many underwater archaeological sites. The steamship company sent a delegation to Washington D.C. in 1907 and got the money to begin building the lighthouse. It operated from 1910 to 1969. Sadly, a few years after the lighthouse was decommissioned, the Edmund Fitzgerald ship and her 29 crew members were lost on Lake Superior. Worth a picture and a poem. The desolate rock upon which the lighthouse stands shows the importance of keeping others safe even if it means doing it alone in harsh conditions. Many early lighthouse keepers needed to guide their families traveling by boat to the lighthouse as there were no roads to the isolated lighthouse. They could only see their families for a short time since there were no schools, stores, etc. Today, Split Rock Lighthouse operates as a 25 acre State Park. This magnificent lighthouse was restored to how it looked in the 1920's. Many historic photos can be viewed of the lighthouse. The bright beacon is still being lit for ceremonies. You can come to the visitor center where you will find museum store, interactive exhibits and a short film. Don't forget your hiking shoes to take in a scenic hike, picnic, and even stay to camp in a tent. Above all, take some pictures to remember the how you can stand tall like the lighthouse and many other people have done even in difficult circumstances.