There are few views in Minnesota that are as iconic as those of - or from - Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It's not only a sight that generations of Minnesotans would instantly recognize, it's also an important piece of history in Minnesota - as well as that of the United States Coast Guard and Great Lakes shipping. I think it's probably the most iconic view in Minnesota.
Split Rock Lighthouse is located on the gorgeous North Shore of Lake Superior between Gooseberry Falls State Park and the village of Beaver Bay. The lighthouse, museum, and grounds are managed by the Minnesota Historical Society and surrounded by the 2,200 acres of Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.
Split Rock is famous for being one of the most photographed and most visited lighthouses in the United States. I've personally photographed it so many times over the years that I had a difficult time deciding which of my photos to include in this piece.
Not only is it beautiful, but Split Rock Lighthouse in also historic. Congress appropriated funds to build it after a 1905 storm damaged 29 ships on Lake Superior. It was completed and began operating in 1910.
Lighthouse keepers and other Coast Guard personnel were stationed at Split Rock over the next 59 years, operating the powerful beacon to warn ships away from the rocky shallows near the headland. It was decommissioned in 1969 as technology decreased the need for manned lighthouse stations.
Today, it stands as an elegant symbol of respect for the Big Lake's power and a reminder about the importance of Great Lakes shipping for Minnesota.
There are few other sights in Minnesota that are both immediately recognizable and historically significant in the same way that Split Rock Lighthouse is. That's why I think a view of the lighthouse is the most iconic in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. For information on visiting Split Rock Lighthouse, including hours and ticket information, visit its page on the Minnesota Historical Society website. If you find Split Rock to be particularly inspiring, you may want to indulge your fascination and lean into the lighthouse theme with a stay at the charming North Shore Lighthouse Suites in Duluth. This vacation rental makes an excellent base camp for staging your North Shore adventures - plus it has a lighthouse.
Do agree that Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the - if not the - most iconic views in Minnesota? Tell us what you think in the comments, and be sure to share your thoughts on other iconic views in our state, as well.
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