Split Rock Light

I am intrigued by lighthouses. Erected in locations of great peril, they often stand in settings of remarkable beauty and drama. Where nature is most powerful, it can also be most dramatic as well.

That is especially true of Split Rock Light erected on the towering cliffs of Lake Superior’s north shore in Minnesota, to light the way for the massive ore carriers that moved a rich treasure of iron ore through from mines in Canada and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As I gaze on this beetling cliff, I begin to understand the legend of the Sirens – whose wild and beautiful songs drew ships to wreck on their perilous rocks.

Surely beauty such as this might call even a plodding ore barge to its ruin. Split Rock Light was built in 1910 and continued to guide ships through stormy waters until 1969 when the Minnesota Park Service took over its management. Now it is perhaps the most visited lighthouse in the United States. Guests who make the long drive are rewarded by a breathtaking view of the rugged limestone light, overlooking a majestic promontory.

I’ve employed artistic license in an effort to capture the drama in Split Rock Light – a romanticized moonlit portrayal of the glorious lighthouse – so you can enjoy this unparalleled view without having to drive the long, rural highway!