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Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, MN

Photo: JMLAX101, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory Buff

Split Rock Lighthouse

3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd · Two Harbors, MN

Why you should go…

Split Rock Lighthouse stands on a 130-foot cliff above Lake Superior on Minnesota's North Shore. It was built in 1910 after a 1905 storm damaged or sank 29 ships on the lake, and it was retired in 1969. The Minnesota Historical Society runs the 25-acre site, where you can go into the lighthouse, the fog signal building, the oil house and a keeper's residence, and see exhibits and a film in the visitor center. It sits inside Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.

  • #lighthouse
  • #lake superior
  • #north shore
  • #historic site
  • #scenic views

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Split Rock Lighthouse, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Gooseberry Falls State Park

    Under $25

    Walk to the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River where it meets Lake Superior on the North Shore.

    5.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Lutsen Mountains

    $50+

    Ski and ride across four peaks above Lake Superior, or take a summer gondola and alpine slide in the Sawtooth Mountains.

    44 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    International Wolf Center

    Under $25

    Watch live ambassador wolves through viewing windows and explore exhibits on wolf behavior at this interpretive center in Ely.

    53 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Iron Range

    Free

    A collection of small mining towns on Minnesota's Iron Range, promoted by the region's tourism bureau.

    57 mi awayMore like this