The organization will unveil a commemorative watercolor painted by Minnesota artist Jim Povich.

The lighthouse was first lit in July 1910. The beacon was in active use for 59 years, guiding ships past the point at Two Harbors until 1969.

Historical site manager Lee Radzak says the Split Rock Lighthouse holds an important place in Minnesota history.

“For many people its the first place where they really get a good feeling for how big lake superior is and why a lighthouse was needed on an inland lake like this,” Radzak said.

Radzak also said winter is a great time to visit the Split Rock Lighthouse, which towers over Lake Superior from a 130-foot cliff.

“It’s also a very pretty time in that you are seeing things like the sea smoke out on the lake, the steam rising off the lake and the real pretty pastels of the sunsets and sunrises in the winter here,” he said.

The historical society is hosting a series of events this year to commemorate the lighthouse’s centennial.

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Real Estate Developer Sam Cave’s decade long disagreement with the City of Two Harbors looks to be over.  Late last month the Minnesota Supreme Court chose to not hear his challenge of a 2006 agreement between the city of Two Harbors and Mr. Cave.

Mr. Cave alluded to the economy and his age as other reasons that the Lighthouse Point Project won’t move forward. “We kind of missed the good economic times,” he told the Lake County News-Chronicle. “I can’t say that I have a plan.”

The decade-long battle resulted from Cave purchasing property from the DM&IR Railroad in 2002 along Agate Bay. The purchase included parcels around the Two Harbors Lighthouse. Mr. Cave’s plan was to build a hotel and condominiums.

Our View: Thank you! Although there was part of Mr. Cave’s project that we liked it caused much grief with the residents of Two Harbors. It’s time to move forward as a small town on the north shore. What’s your view?

The Duluth News Tribune covered this story in more depth. We recommend reading for full details.

It was recently reported by the Lake County News-Chronicle that they believed the Honking Tree was the Story of the year. We at TwoHarborsNews.com would like to chime in. WTF?

We enjoyed the Honking Tree as much as the next passing motorist. We almost shed a tear the morning we read about the Honking Tree being cut down, but to name it the story of the year?

Between the Chronicle’s repeated stories and our Mayor’s (Mr. Randy Bolen, Jr) promotion of the different Honking Tree Memorials it may have seemed as if this was the story of the year. We assure you that it was not.

Our story of the year WOULD have been the firing of Forrest Johnson, the long-time Lake County News-Chronicle editor that was removed from his job. Talk about being chopped down. Mr. Johnson gave the last 20 years to the News-Chronicle and was toppled in one meeting.

What would have been your story of the year? Tell us now.

You can read the Chronicles “Story of the Year” here.