Two Harbors Minnesota
Harbour Lights #293

Imagine being able to stay in an active lighthouse, even being designated a working Assistant Keeper. Your dream can be a reality at Two Harbors Light Bed & Breakfast, operated by the Lake County Historical Society.

This beautiful red brick sentinel was built in 1892 and is situated halfway between Duluth and Split Rock. Construction of the light station was recorded in the 1887 Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers of the US Army, which recommended a plan to protect the natural harbor at Agate Bay. In 1891, a warranty deed between Thomas Feigh and the US Government transferred ownership of the one-acre site for $1. Construction began that Spring and the light was first lit on April 15, 1892, halfway between Agate Bay and Burlington Bay – thus the origin of its name.

The two story attached structures give a homey appearance to the 49-foot tower. Except for the garage, all of the buildings date back to 1892 and have been well maintained over the years. The original Fourth Order Fresnel Lens was replaced in 1970 with a 24-inch aero beacon, which remains on at all times and is totally automated from a station in Duluth. The two 1,000-watt bulbs flash a pattern that alerts mariners to specific information. When the Fresnel Lens was removed, it was transferred to the Inland Seas Museum in Vermillion, Ohio.

The lighthouse was automated in 1987, and the Lake County Historical Society entered in a lease agreement for the site. The organization opened the Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast in 1998 and also operates the museum.

Guests at the Bed & Breakfast become registered keepers of the light during their stay. As Assistant Lighthouse Keepers, they contribute to the preservation of this historic beacon, and learn its history. All proceeds are applied to the restoration and maintenance of Two Harbors.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Two Harbors offers visitors a picturesque respite from city life, with breathtaking vistas of Lake Superior’s North Shore and a first hand view of a working harbor. To learn more about Two Harbors, please contact the Historical Society at 888-832-5606.