Wisconsin, Lighthouses, and Pies

A quick drive over the bridge to Wisconsin. Now we can always say we have been to Wisconsin.

First stop Two Harbors Lighthouse

The fog signal

The Lighthouse was built to provide safe passage into the Agate Bay Harbor during the early 20th century, as Two Harbors was a major shipping point for the iron ore 

It's the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota.

Pilothouse from the Frontenac ore boat, which contains an exhibit on its history and shipwrecks

Had fun watching the ship dock at shore.

Sometimes I just can't choose one even if they are the same.

Getting some yummy food at Culver's before we headed on our next adventure.
Eliza is ready for a nap!

A November gale that wrecked nearly 30 ships in 1905 prompted this rugged landmark's construction. When the U.S. Lighthouse Service completed Split Rock Light Station in 1910, it soon became one of Minnesota's best known destinations.

Nestled in a Minnesota State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the most photographed and visited spots in the state, with a drama-filled history and breathtaking Lake Superior views.

In the early years of the 20th century, Lake Superior was experiencing a high and growing demand for iron ore shipments. With 112 steel freighters in 1901, U.S. Steel Corporation bulk ore carriers became "the greatest exclusive freight-carrying fleet sailing under one ownership in the world." The call for a new lighthouse on the lake’s inhospitable North Shore was hardly surprising.

On November 28, 1905, a single storm damaged 29 ships, fully one third of which were the uninsured property of the U.S. Steel fleet. Two of these carriers foundered on this rocky coastline. As American novelist James Oliver Curwood proclaimed, the North Shore of Lake Superior was "the most dangerous piece of water in the world."

The lighthouse could only be accessed by water for nearly 15 years until the Lake Superior International Highway was completed in 1924, making the lighthouse more easily reachable for the lighthouse keepers and their families. Tourists also took advantage of the new roadway, and Split Rock Lighthouse swiftly became one of the most popular destinations in Minnesota.

Had to, of course, try out the WORLD FAMOUS Betty's pies. 

YEP! They were YUMMY!