State Parks on the North Shore
We went up to Northern
Minnesota to spend some time with my in-laws for the fourth of July holiday weekend.
While there, I convinced my wife to take a drive up the North Shore of Gitche Gumee (Lake Superior).
It started out as an absolutely gorgeous day with bright sunlight, a blue sky and scattered clouds.
The drive itself is beautiful as it skirts the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the world.
The highway dips and climbs over and sometimes through the mountainous cliffs that populate the lake shore.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0750a.jpg)
A tunnel through the hillside
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0752a.jpg)
Another one
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0754a.jpg)
A very scenic drive
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0758a.jpg)
By the shores of Gitche Gumee. In the Ojibwe language it is
Ojibwe Gichigami(Ojibwe's Great Sea)
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0676a.jpg)
Those of you who read the "Song of Hiawatha" in high school might remember the lines below.
By the shores of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.
Dark behind it rose the forest,
Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,
Rose the firs with cones upon them;
Bright before it beat the water,
Beat the clear and sunny water,
Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water.
-H.W. Longfellow
Shortly after leaving the "Twin Ports" of Duluth,
Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin; the Multi-lane Interstate higway (I35) ends and turns into the two lane
State Highway 61. Traffic was relatively heavy as recreational vehicles and pull-behind campers crowded the road to this vacation-land. This weekend is one of the busiest holiday weekends of the summer.
After going through the small town of Two Harbors, we come to Gooseberry Falls
State Park and about ten miles further is Split Rock LIghthouse
State Park. The park itself is a large 2,260 acres and has many trails as well as campsites. The main feature of the park, of course is The Lighthouse on the Split Rock.
Split Rock Lighthouse
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0715b.jpg)
The entrance to the
State Park
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0679a.jpg)
Walking up to the Lighthouse. The Fog Signal Building is on the left.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0681a.jpg)
A member of the
Minnesota Historical Society dressed up as a Lighthouse keeper.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0682a.jpg)
Two gasoline powered air compressors powered the fog signal. It could be heard five miles away.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0683a.jpg)
about the lamp, lens and the beacon. The beacon flashed every ten seconds and could be seen 22 miles away.
The lens assembly weighs nearly 6.5 tons.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0684a.jpg)
Supplying the lighthouse before the highway was built was a real challenge.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0685a.jpg)
The drawing of the Lighthouse plan.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0686a.jpg)
The Lighthouse. Since it is perched on a rock 130 ft high, the tower itself is only 54 ft tall.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0687a.jpg)
The view straight down the split in the rock. Lake Superior is renowned for the clarity of its water.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0690a.jpg)
My wife checking out the view.
The point of land sticking out into the lake, visible just above her head is where I photographed the lighthouse (the last two shots in this post).
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0705a.jpg)
Later, we walked down to the shore line. Here, the
State has thoughtfully placed numerous intimate little picnic spots along the shore line for campers to enjoy. It was a warm day but the gentle breeze coming off the lake provided air-conditioning. Lake Superior stays at 45 deg. F, all summer.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0708a.jpg)
A view of the LIghthouse from the campsite/picnic area. The white speck near the foot of the rock is a fishing boat.
![Image](http://roundhouseinc.org/images/stpk/sprock/Dscn0709a.jpg)
The beautifully restored Split Rock Lighthouse.