Minnesota Point Lighthouse Hike

The Minnesota Point Lighthouse has been on my list of must see places for a long time.  I’ve been close, but never saw it.  That all changed last Saturday.

Minnesota Point Lighthouse - Top of the Tower

Minnesota Point Lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in Minnesota.  Once the locks at Sault Ste Marie were completed, Lake Superior was open for business.  To accommodate the expected increase in boat traffic, a lighthouse was needed at the Superior Entry into St. Louis Harbor.  Minnesota Point Light was built about 3/4ths of a mile from the natural channel through the longest freshwater sandbar in the world.

The light served the maritime industry for only a couple of decades before the new Duluth Shipping Canal was dredged to allow more convenient access to the harbor.  The light was no longer needed.  It has sat in a state of disrepair ever since.

The tower is significant because it marks the spot chosen by Henry Bayfield of the British Royal Navy as Zero Point for surveying Lake Superior.

Surveys of the lake were done using that very spot as the starting point from where all other points referred to.  The remains of the tower are on the National Historic Register, protecting it from being torn down but cold winters and strong storms threaten the nearly 160 year old brickwork.

The hike I took to the Minnesota Point Lighthouse and beyond was a little over 6 miles in distance and it took about two and a half hours.

Come on the hike with me…

 

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About Raun Lauterbach

Optimistic realist, life enthusiast, outdoor cook, Midwest traveler, husband, father... Follow me: Twitter | Facebook | Get updates in your email
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  • http://bluecollarliving.com James Dibben

    Dude, way to go! Six miles is quite a haul!

  • http://www.backyardlifeblog.com Raun Lauterbach

     Thanks!  It actually didn’t feel like it was that far.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that my feet and legs weren’t tired or worn out when I was done.