Split Rock Lighthouse, Minnesota
Posted by: 
hykesj
N 47° 11.999 W 091° 22.168
15T E 623497 N 5228677
The picturesque Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota graced this 1995 stamp, one of a set of five featuring lighthouses of the Great Lakes.
Waymark Code: WMXTZN
Location: Minnesota, United States
Date Posted: 02/27/2018
Views: 2
November storms on Lake Superior are notorious for their strong winds, high waves and near-zero visibility. One was even immortalized in a song: “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” A particularly bad storm in 1905 wrecked or severely damaged 18 vessels, four of them within a 15-mile stretch of Lake Superior’s north shore near the mouth of the Split Rock River. In the storm’s aftermath, several shipping companies and carrier associations lobbied Congress to build a lighthouse near this spot to prevent future disasters.
The spot chosen for the lighthouse was a 130 ft. high rocky outcrop a couple of miles east of the Split Rock River. This location is rather remote (even today) and as there were no roads leading to this spot back then, all material and workers had to be brought in by ship. The finished tower stood 54 ft. tall and featured a third order Fresnel lens and a flashing beacon that could be seen for 22 miles.
Apparently, this lighthouse was successful since there were no more shipwrecks in the vicinity after its activation in 1910. But advancements in technology and navigational techniques (and much improved weather forecasting) eventually rendered the lighthouse unnecessary and it was decommissioned in 1968.
Due to its scenic locale and stately architecture, Split Rock Lighthouse began to attract tourists almost as soon as it was finished. The number of people seeking to visit this spot really took off after a road reached the light station in 1924. Tourism has never been discouraged here even after the Coast Guard took over in 1939. Today, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park continues to be a big attraction even though the lighthouse is no longer in operation. Besides the historic structure, it features camping, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities. And they do occasionally turn the light on for special events such as the anniversary of the sinking of the aforementioned “Edmond Fitzgerald.”
Stamp Issuing Country: United States
Date of Issue: 17-Jun-1995
Denomination: 32 cents
Color: multicolored
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: Not listed
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