Split Rock Lighthouse, The Superior Light - Full Documentary

Split Rock, The Superior Light relates the saga of the most visited and most photographed lighthouse on the Great Lakes. From the challenges of construction to the isolated life of the early keepers, Split Rock's story fascinates and delights.
With the construction of Highway 61 along the Minnesota North Shore of Lake Superior, the keepers' duties expanded from tending the light station to becoming tour guides for thousands of eager tourists. Today, forty-plus years after decommissioning by the Coast Guard, Split Rock has become one of the most-visited historic sites in Minnesota. 2010 marks the centennial celebration of this landmark on Lake Superior.
#history #historical

[@georgiaprice4490]

My grandad Justus L. Luick was the 2nd light house keeper n the 1920's my Mother sent the first 9 yrs of her life there. I heard many a story about her life there, she said that was the happiest time of her life. One of the stories goes that she was the only infant brought to the lighthouse by the tramway n October 1929.

[@WayneBraack]

I love this story.

[@S2DIOfficial]

That's awesome!

[@philelsey7639]

Absolutely fascinating and very interesting 👍

[@SunilDhabhai024]

Great job, I am also working in light house

[@DidivsIvlianvs]

Why couldn't the shipping companies chip in and build their own damn light houses?

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

Didivs Ivlianvs they did every year in fees and licenses. In fact, they still do.

[@misters2837]

As a young child in the 80's - I was allowed to climb up on the lantern deck, I happened to be there on a day where they were cleaning the inside of the lens. I was in awe.... It literally "Floats" on mercury. My wife and I visited split rock on our honeymoon, holds a special place for us.

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

now mercury is known to be hazardous to our health. back in the 60s we had mercury in thermometers and heating thermostats.

[@oilsmokejones3452]

Like most docs on lighthouses everything is covered ad nauseam except the actual lighthouse...3rd order lens, gasoline powered fog horns, mercury thrust bearing, kerosene vapor lamp..all profoundly interesting subjects for more detailed discussion, but no, we spend more time on the site's photogenic properties than the workings of the lighthouse...

[@glambret]

Man, I am very interested in lighhouses. Do you know any good documentaries that would explore better the subject? Thanks!

[@oilsmokejones3452]

Guilherme Lópes Souza Unfortunately I don't..they all just talk about how the lighthouse looks in a picture and maybe a little history and construction of the superstructure..I can only suggest google searching specific topics and seeking books on the subject..

[@chrisschons7312]

Agree. I wanted to hear more about the light and the Parisian company that made it.

[@DoctorObscure]

@@chrisschons7312 if you're looking to learn more about Split Rock Lighthouse, the film Split Rock Light: Age of Steel goes over some of the technical details, while also being infinitely more entertaining. The MN Historical Society sells it on their website.

[@santatigerclaus]

only mentions it being a bearing light ,@18:20 (a pool of mercury supports the light with perfect zero drag )

[@ashleybass6794]

Went there as a child! I fell in love with lighthouses after that! So beautiful!

[@LadyJoJoDmn]

I do not think it is boring but then I was born and lived on the shores of Lake Superior. Well done on some interesting history of "our" lake.

[@greghemlock6679]

You don't mess with gitchegoome when The gales of November come early

[@williamjameslehy1341]

It looks so much like Maine, I can't believe it's the Midwest. I really must see Lake Superior someday, either its Minnesota or Ontario coast.

[@TempoDrift1480]

It's not the mid west. Mid west is North Dakota.

[@kukajin9560]

@@TempoDrift1480 did you pass elementary school?

[@EthanL21800]

@@TempoDrift1480 Minnesota is apart of the Midwest.

[@EthanL21800]

Start in Duluth and drive up around to Thunder Bay it is an amazing shoreline

[@nedludd7622]

And Upper Michigan.

[@MuzzaBikeFix]

But the music is to loud,

[@drgustaf2450]

And quite awful

[@nedludd7622]

Not at all.

[@mjc11a]

Very good presentation. Informative as it is educational. Beautiful scenery. Thanks for posting and stay safe.

[@easygoing2479]

Split Rock Lighthouse is beautiful! It’s so photogenic it’s sickening.

[@kiwidiesel]

Truly a curse I am burdened with myself.

[@roland20002000]

Over hear in the U.K. they were building them out at sea in the 1800's, I'm still trying to work out how they did it?

[@kentnauman9863]

Interesting I was just there last week, was snow on the ground. This video is better for information because buildings were closed because of covid

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

Best part about Split Rock is that it was serviced by the SS America, the coolest ship to ever plow the Mother Lake.

[@KansasJayhawksfan-pd1op]

I went there during the lake superior circle tour. IT WAS VERY AWESOME AND BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@rahulranecool]

I had visited this lighthouse in the fall of 2006. It had started to get chilly and yet the views were outstanding with fall colors appearing. The sight of the lighthouse itself is breathtaking and the view of the lake from the land mass is equally beautiful. There is so much history in this place. I would love to visit again someday.

[@justinlynch3]

Back when $2 a day was good money.

[@karinscott1241]

That lake terrifies me, and I'm a Lake Ontario girl.

[@easygoing2479]

It’s quite a bit different than the other four. So much bigger, and a wild and rocky character about it. Lake Huron's got a little bit of that, too.

[@santatigerclaus]

at night the foghorns on Mackinac island, and the ships coming thru from the north (as heard on Boise-Blanc) are great to hear too

[@realbudgiesmugglertwohatsb2611]

The narrator has a beautiful voice and the music is perfect for the documentary nice work people...

[@richgerow3472]

I can't wait to see Split Rock. Only about month now until my visit!

[@robertbisson4739]

Visit Palisade Head while your in the area. Best views on the lake.

[@CraigMartineau]

Can you please post your thoughts and comments? Would. Love to hear your reaction.

[@markfancher5676]

All of the states that borders the Great lakes are amazing

[@Too519]

thank you so much for this very well put together piece of history

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

I have SCUBA dived the Madiera many times. Not so deep but very cold water. I learned you must use an "Arctic" regulator as on my first dive there I had a free flowing regulator and need to abort the dive.

[@rainwater8135]

That piano music is awful

[@nonya-hn4lk]

The doc was informative and interesting, the music was annoying.

[@S2DIOfficial]

I went here in 2002 for a 4th grade field trip. We were able to walk up the spiral staircase to see the lens up close, and there was a chip in one section. The guy told us there was a chip in the lens because a thief tried to break part of the valuable crystal off. Can anybody verify this? I can't find anything on it, but I still remember him talking to us about it clearly.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Great documentary!! I've only seen one other lens like that - at Bodie Island, NC Outer Banks. Just beautiful & the entire thing about any lighthouse is such a testimony to craftmanship & quality. Too many spoiled rotten people now have no appreciation of what it took to build & maintain these beautiful places.

[@Fireball-il7mr]

I worked for the company that built the campground, 1984-85.

[@jeremyfield4148]

So sad how the old ways are changing or are gone. We used to have to respect the sea or be taken, now we take advantage and don't respect all for prosparity and money

[@roberthodge7802]

Another excellent product! Thank you all WDSE-WRPT-PBS tax and member dollars very well spent.

[@stephenspilker9334]

i love light houses and split rock is my favorite. light house keeper would have been my ideal job.

[@drgustaf2450]

Dreadful narration and vile music

[@CaspianDiggery]

I love the ragtime music I wish I could find the actual name so I can listen to it

[@pythongunner]

That storm is my birthday......cool

[@mrwaterschoot5617]

light houses are a things of history and fasination. back in thr 6rh grade i went on a clss trip to new york city and we took a boat ride around the city on the circle line. goimg under the masssive george washington bridge i remember seeing a light house under the bridge. on my 50th birthay i celebrated my birth day in north hero vermont and while there my wife and i went to the edge of lake champlain and we saw the image of a light hose that was privately owned. when in new bern north carolina. we had a chane to cmb an old light house. we saw anot light house in north carolina. we had a chance to see to see light houses. on cape cod. a with to a neighbors familys homestead in provincetown and he pointed oyt the light house that he visited as a kid. lighthouse are cool though their use has turned hto disuse. .

[@definitely_notme4112]

Never been but would love to

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

I was there, it was a beautiful area.

[@joewaren508]

A lake full of ships

[@KingofCrusher]

PBS always with the best docs.

[@georgiaprice4490]

Do they still use the light after dark & during storms?

[@KelseyDunlevy]

No. The light is turned on once a year, on November 10th, to commemorate the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[@mikepoteet1443]

Enough with the piano.

[@drgustaf2450]

Total drivel

[@BoneZone]

It would sound more pleasing with the the psycho string shrieks

[@epasko5713]

WHY DID THEY? climb the stairs to wind it? alls they need was a long ass rod to put the crank on and a worm gear at the top. even all the Stevenson's were the same dumb method.

[@markrowland1366]

There is no shoreline but on a map or chart. There is a shore.

[@williamhilbert8324]

I would love that job lol about three lbs of weed and unlimited internet I would rock it people suck

[@thenauticalnomadmactire]

i did not recognise it and i am just a few lakes away so a lot of big clames.

[@bigtruck182]

great video worst sounding bell i have ever herd at the end lol

[@bigtruck182]

thats not the bell from the ship

[@bigtruck182]

downwindsports.com/glsks/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Edmund_Fitzgerald_bell-2.jpg

[@bigtruck182]

its all good Stan :-)

[@Chaoitcme]

This is so boring. Blah. This is a perfect example of how not to do a documentary.

[@oilsmokejones3452]

+Chaoitcme In a way I agree..so many opportunities are lost for explaining the actual lighthouse, like it's a lighthouse documentary for people aren't interested in lighthouses...

[@3516mos]

Its Minnesota.........

[@3516mos]

They think the sun shines out of their butt-holes.....

[@HellFireAndBrimstone]

Am Minnesotan, have never claimed to have had sun shine out of my ass.

[@karshyy]

@@3516mos We really don't think that you brat.

[@curvebuster]

Only useful on a FLAT EARTH? :-))

[@skipsassy1]

the new telescopes use computers to "craft" Hubble so let's not get carried away with romantic nonsense.