Friday, July 4, 2025
HomeNewsEducationHistory Unearthed at Split Rock Lighthouse

History Unearthed at Split Rock Lighthouse

Historic sidewalk and parts of orig­inal tramway uncovered during archaeology work at site

TWO HARBORS, Minn. (June 25, 2025) – Archaeology work at Split Rock Lighthouse has led to a his­toric discovery.

As part of this summer’s Trails and Landscape rehabilitation, crews removing asphalt near Keeper’s House #1 uncovered a historic side­walk that once connected the house to the original barn. Archaeologists determined that this sidewalk also outlined the location of one of Split Rock’s original tramways, which was used to bring building materi­als up the cliff from Lake Superior during construction of the light­house.

As excavations continued, more discoveries came to light. The ar­chaeology team also uncovered original rail ties and several rail­road spikes from the tramway.

These discoveries provide a deeper understanding of Split Rock Light­house’s early history, helping his­torians better understand how the site was constructed, and how it has evolved into its current state.

Restoration work at the lighthouse includes improvements to existing pathways and restoring historic cir­culation patterns within the historic core. After the project is complet­ed, guests will have access to a new view of where the historic hoist and derrick system was located and learn how it brought materials up from the water in 1909 during con­struction of the site. This new ex­tended platform will provide views of the lighthouse, coastline, and Lake Superior.

The Minnesota Historical Society Archaeology Team will continue their work onsite as construction progresses.

This project was made possible by the people of Minnesota through an appropriation made by the Minne­sota State Legislature and approved by the Governor.

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment - HTML5/CSS3 Responsive Image Slider

Most Popular

HTML5/CSS3 Responsive Image Slider