The oldest continuously operating light on the North Shore of Lake Superior once again shined over the water on the Fourth of July for the first time in six years. The Two Harbors Lighthouse light went out in November 2019 due to hardware failure, and a temporary flashing beacon was installed to continue providing navigation aid on the lake.
The Lake County Historical Society began fundraising to replace the iconic light, raising $50K for an LED beacon from a Finnish company that replicates the rotational sweeping pattern of the original light, and unveiled the new light for the first time on the Fourth of July, 2025, reports MPR News.
“This has been a long journey for us — from fundraising to installation — and we’re incredibly proud of what our community has accomplished,” said Sam Gangi, president of the historical society board, reports MPR News.
The lighthouse was built in 1893 to guide ships into the iron ore docks that were built in Agate Bay a decade earlier, and the historical society now operates it as a museum, bed and breakfast and privately operated navigation aid.
“The new beacon will bring back that iconic sweep and signature of our original light and be as close as possible to the original,” said Ellen Lynch, executive director of the historical society, reports MPR News.
To learn more visit lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
PHOTO: LAKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
