In the early 20th century, the North Shore of Lake Superior was treacherous to cross. It was also an important route for the steel trade with the U.S. Steel Corporation running 112 steel freighters in 1901. Because of these two facts, there were calls for a lighthouse to be put on the North Shore in order to illuminate the area.
On November 28th, 1905, 29 ships were damaged in a single storm. A third of these ships were U.S. Steel ships and uninsured. Because of this and the ongoing difficulties of carrying steel in this area, the Split Rock lighthouse eventually came into being.
In 1910, the construction of the 7.6 acre facility was completed, and this was how Split Rock Lighthouse came to be. It became a popular tourist attraction as well as being practical for the ships traveling the area. In fact, at an estimated 100,000 visitors in the 1930s, that was five times as many visitors as other lighthouses.
As the decline of the usage of lighthouses spread because of new technology, Split Rock Lighthouse was closed down in 1969. The state of Minnesota acquired this site in 1971 and transferred it to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1976.
The site was restored to how it was in the 1920s when it was only able to be reached by ship. It was declared a historical site in 2011, andlandmark. It's still one of the most popular lighthouses in America to visit, and it receives roughly 130,000 visitors a year.
In the early 20th century, the North Shore of Lake Superior was treacherous to cross. It was also an important route for the steel trade with the U.S. Steel Corporation running 112 steel freighters in 1901. Because of these two facts, there were calls for a lighthouse to be put on the North Shore in order to illuminate the area.
On November 28th, 1905, 29 ships were damaged in a single storm. A third of these ships were U.S. Steel ships and uninsured. Because of this and the ongoing difficulties of carrying steel in this area, the Split Rock lighthouse eventually came into being.
In 1910, the construction of the 7.6 acre facility was completed, and this was how Split Rock Lighthouse came to be. It became a popular tourist attraction as well as being practical for the ships traveling the area. In fact, at an estimated 100,000 visitors in the 1930s, that was five times as many visitors as other lighthouses.
As the decline of the usage of lighthouses spread because of new technology, Split Rock Lighthouse was closed down in 1969. The state of Minnesota acquired this site in 1971 and transferred it to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1976.
The site was restored to how it was in the 1920s when it was only able to be reached by ship. It was declared a historical site in 2011, andlandmark. It's still one of the most popular lighthouses in America to visit, and it receives roughly 130,000 visitors a year.
