Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse is a brick lighthouse on a cliff along the shore of Lake Superior in Beaver Bay Township, Minnesota. The octagonal tower rises 16 meters and stands on a rock ledge roughly 40 meters above the water.

After a severe storm in 1905 damaged many ships, construction began on this facility. The lighthouse started operations in July 1910 and was decommissioned in 1969.

The name comes from the jagged rock formation beneath the tower, a recognizable feature along this stretch of shoreline. Visitors walk through the keeper houses and see how families lived here during the 1920s.

Access to the grounds and visitor center requires a fee payable at the entrance. Paths lead across the grounds and down to the lakeshore, with sturdy footwear recommended.

Every November 10th the beacon is switched on for a ceremony, even though the tower has been out of service for decades. This gesture honors a well-known shipwreck that occurred farther east.

Location: Beaver Bay Township

Official opening: 1909

Height: 16 m

Made from material: brick

GPS coordinates: 47.20028,-91.36750

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28