Company and Split Rock Lighthouse

Company and Split Rock Lighthouse

Been saving a trip to see the lighthouse for when Gary got here.  

View from scenic overlook

A strong 1905 November gale which damaged 29 ships, prompted  construction of the lighthouse, it was completed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1910 at a cost of $75,000.  It's picturesque setting has made it the most visited lighthouse in the United States.  In 1924 Highway 61 was built and tourists started to flock to the Lighthouse.

 

 The lighthouse was closed in 1969, when modern navigational equipment made it obsolete.

View of the 3 keeps houses

 The Lighthouse was isolated by the lake with no land access, supplies and visitors could come only by boat and lifted up by a rope and bucket.  In 1916  an elevated tramway was built to replace original hoisting engine and derrick

 

The Keepers houses have been restored to the 1920's

The building on the left housed the fog horn

The Lighthouse is in Minnesota so you knew there had to be stairs - 174 of them.  

 

 But you got to do it if you want a photograph of the Lighthouse atop the 130' cliff, or I suppose we could have taken the tour boat.

 

Company and Gooseberry Falls State Park


Got up early and worked 6 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. then drove to Duluth to pick Gary up from airport.  We drove to Gooseberry Falls State Park to spend the night.

 

The Upper Falls are really pretty

 

As are the Middle Falls

 and the lower Falls

It

Tucson prefers the pools to the Falls

and they all flow into the Lake

 The picnic benches made by the CCC were built to last

 Wild Flowers are in bloom

Naniboujou and the Devil's Kettle

This week on my day off I drove up to Grand Marais to have my final crown put on and meet up with my friend Ada to do a hike to Devil's Kettle and then have lunch at Naniboujou Lodge.

 

 The Lilacs are in bloom now

 It's supposed to be a picture perfect day - sunny and 70's

 Our hike is going to be to the Devil's Kettle Waterfalls in Judge C.R. Magney State Park.  

The Trail follows the Brule River

 

Tucson Loves Rivers

 

It is 3 miles round trip

 and has 180 steps, are we really surprised at this?

 

 

 We finally reach the Falls

It's hard to see because of the recent rain - there is a lot of water, but the river plunges into a pool and keeps going downstream on the right side, but on the left side it falls into a hole and disappears.  They have never found out where it goes.  They have put dyes in the water, ping pong balls logs,but they never appear to come out anywhere  It's been said that locals even pushed a car down it. 

Here's a picture from the internet taken when there was less water flowing

 

Mysterious!

180 steps back up

We're ready to head to Naniboujou Lodge for lunch!

 

Built in 1929 it was planned by wealthy business men in Duluth - some say the Mob.  

Membership was to be limited, and free memberships were given to public figures of the day in order to attract other members. Members included celebrities, Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and  plans included a golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, a marina, a 150–room clubhouse, and an inland hunting lodge but financial problems due to the Great Depression forced it to be foreclosed in 1935.  The land became part of the State Park but the Lake shore property and lodge remained in private ownership.

 

The interior was  painted by the French artist Antoine Gouffee with other native-inspired designs, and have been called a "psychedelic marriage of  Art Deco and traditional Cree Indian patterns"

 

  

 

It boasts Minnesota's largest native rock fireplace around 12 feet high and 200 tons.

I had the The Naniboujou Club Sandwich
Turkey breast, sugar cured thick cut bacon, Brie cheese, leaf lettuce, mustard-mayonnaise, and cranberry sauce served on our homemade wild rice bread -it was to die for!

 

Of course the property itself right on the shore of Lake Superior is stunning 

Hey Mom!  There's water!

 

 It was an absolutely perfect day.

On the way back to Grand Marais we had to stop and take pictures of the "lawn ornaments" in this yard.  The entire frontage of the property is filled with driftwood, rocks, cairns and various animal statues.  Ada says it belongs to a State Legislature. 

Well, next week on my days off I will have Company!  Gary from Jekyll Island is coming for a week.  Got lots of things planned to see and do!