6 Sep
Long day today. We departed mid-morning and returned about 5:30 this evening. It was overcast to start with a little rain, but then it cleared a bit. Cool enough for sweatshirts most of the day.
Enger Tower: We started out driving through Superior to Duluth and visiting the Enger Tower which looks kind of like a lighthouse but it is not really. It is located 531 ft above the level of lake Superior, high on Enger Hill looking out over the Duluth Harbor. The tower was built in 1939 and dedicated June 13th by Crown Prince Olav of Norway.
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| Doreen in front of Enger Tower |
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| Many navigation and broadcast antennas on this hill. |
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| Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge |
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| Looking southwest |
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| Docks where the freighters load and unload grain. The Sand bar is seen here too |
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| Doreen navigating the 95 steps to the top |
Old Davis House: On the way out of town we drove past a house at 2028 Macfarlane Road that used to be owned by Doreen's grandmother's brother, Curtis Davis. We have an old picture when Doreen was here in 1962 but could not find it to post here.
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| Doreen's picture shows snow up to the bottom of this street sign |
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| The walk-in door used to be the garage and the driveway would have came straight out. |
Two Harbors Light Station: Heading north and east out of Duluth on the scenic Highway 61 we stopped by Two Harbors and visited the Two Harbors Light Station. Standing 78 ft above the water, this light station was built in 1886 to provide navigational aid at Agate Bay and was operational until 1981 when it was fully automated. The Keepers Residence was turned into a Bed and Breakfast as a means of funding to maintain the facility.
The Light Station complex includes the lighthouse, a pilot house from a ship that sunk, a skiff house, an oil house, the assistant keeper's house, the fog horn house and the actual lighthouse.
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| The pilot house salvaged from the Frontenac |
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| Ship to shore radio, 50 watt made by GE |
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| Pilot area |
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| Radar system |
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| The skiff house |
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| The skiff! |
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| The oil house, used to bulk store oil that powered the lamps in the lighthouse. |
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| The assistant keeper's house |
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| The living room area |
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| Wood stove used to heat the living area |
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| Kitchen area includes stove and clothes washing machine to the right |
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| Antique baby high chair |
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| The sink area with water pump |
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| Utensils on the stove. One is a pop corn popper! |
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| The lighthouse, beautifully preserved |
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| Doreen climbing the narrow, steep staircase |
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| No railings and not very wide |
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| Portals from the top inside the lighthouse |
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| A view of the harbor and the ore loading piers |
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| The lights used today. |
Also at Two Harbors, on the end of the concrete breakwater is a harbor light that is maintained by the Coast Guard. It is not considered a lighthouse but is significant to provide navigation into the bay where the first iron ore dock, the largest in the world, was built.
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| The concrete breakwater walkway out to the harbor light |
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| The harbor light |
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| The ore loading piers |
Goose Berry Falls: Further up Highway 61 was Goose Berry Falls Park. It's claim to fame is several beautiful water falls. Most are easily accessible on hiking trails.
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| One of two tunnels before we got to Gooseberry Falls |
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| The second tunnel |
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| Park entrance |
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| The visitor center, educational displays |
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| We finally got to see a bear on this trip!! |
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| Bob Cats |
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| The falls |
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| Unique hole in the side of the hill |
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| You can walk out onto the rocks here. |
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| I walked out and am looking over the edge of the waterfalls! Whoa! |
Split Rock Lighthouse: Finally, further up Highway 61 we found Split Rock Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built after the disastrous 1905 storm that sank or damaged 29 ships. It was put into service in 1910 and the first 20 years it was only accessible by boat. Eventually in 1924 the north shore highway was built and the lighthouse was then accessible by vehicle. It was decommissioned in 1969. This lighthouse and the adjacent buildings are meticulously maintained just as they appeared in 1920. This is one of the nicest lighthouse complexes I have ever seen!
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| The Split Rock Lighthouse from a distance |
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| Doreen walking with one of the light keepers/tour guides |
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| Doreen in front of the Split Rock Lighthouse |
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| The fog signal house, contained the air compressors that powered the horns |
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| Climbing the stairs |
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| Looking up into the third order bi-valve Fresnel lens |
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| The mechanism that causes the light to rotate |
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| Doreen and the Light Keeper |
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