Turning Off the Light and Afterward
In the mid to late 1900’s technology was growing increasingly fast. Soon the Doppler Effect, a modern form of log, GPS, and LORAN were all new navigational systems being used on Lake Superior. Warning lighthouses were no longer becoming a necessity of the Great Lakes. In fact, around 1950 the government was talking about shutting Split Rock Lighthouse down, but decided to keep it open until January 1st 1969, when the lighthouse was decommissioned.
Split Rock Lighthouse is now a National Historical Site and a State Park. The lighthouse is run by the Minnesota Historical Society, and the park is run by the state of Minnesota. The park spans 2200 acres edged with steep shoreline trails, glimpses of a keeper’s life from years ago, campsites right on the lake, and so much more!
Split Rock Lighthouse continues to see astounding numbers of visitors. In June and July they generally see around twelve hundred people per day! Annually the staff at Split Rock greet between one hundred to one hundred twenty thousand people per year.
Split Rock Lighthouse annually commemorates November 10th to remember the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. Its’ bell is tolled thirty times—29 times in honor of each of the men that died on the Fitzgerald, and once to remember all others who have perished on Lake Superior and shipwrecks.
All in all, Split Rock Lighthouse has been a turning point in Minnesota history for a number of reasons—a boon to the iron ore industry in the early 1900’s, a great tourist attraction to the north shore, and becoming one of Minnesota’s most famous icons.
Split Rock Lighthouse is now a National Historical Site and a State Park. The lighthouse is run by the Minnesota Historical Society, and the park is run by the state of Minnesota. The park spans 2200 acres edged with steep shoreline trails, glimpses of a keeper’s life from years ago, campsites right on the lake, and so much more!
Split Rock Lighthouse continues to see astounding numbers of visitors. In June and July they generally see around twelve hundred people per day! Annually the staff at Split Rock greet between one hundred to one hundred twenty thousand people per year.
Split Rock Lighthouse annually commemorates November 10th to remember the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. Its’ bell is tolled thirty times—29 times in honor of each of the men that died on the Fitzgerald, and once to remember all others who have perished on Lake Superior and shipwrecks.
All in all, Split Rock Lighthouse has been a turning point in Minnesota history for a number of reasons—a boon to the iron ore industry in the early 1900’s, a great tourist attraction to the north shore, and becoming one of Minnesota’s most famous icons.
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