Access To One Of Minnesota’s Most Popular Attractions Being Temporarily Closed This Spring

One of the most popular destinations in all of Northern Minnesota will be temporarily inaccessible to the public this spring.

Split Rock Lighthouse, one of the most photographed icons of Minnesota, will undergo a months-long restoration project in 2025. The first phase of the project will make access to popular parts of the historic facility inaccessible to the public for a period this spring.

What kind of construction project is being done at Split Rock?

The Minnesota Historical Society announced a few days ago that a lengthy rehabilitation project will get underway at the attraction north of Two Harbors on May 5, 2025, and is expected to last through this fall.

The project will include a number of improvements around the grounds, focused on improving accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience at the historic lighthouse and surrounding facilities.

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Improvements to existing pathways and restoration to other elements on the lighthouse grounds will do things like improve access & views of things like the historic hoist and derrick system, as well as offer better views of the lighthouse, Lake Superior, and the coastline.

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It is worth nothing that this project is limited to the area around the lighthouse, which is managed by the Minnesota Historical Society. This will not have any impact on the surrounding Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, which is managed by the Minnesota DNR.

What will be inaccessible, and when will it be inaccessible at Split Rock?

The first phase of the project, which will start on May 5, will be the most impactful to visitors.

While the visitor center, gift shop, and exhibits will be open, access to historic buildings (including the lighthouse) will be closed to the public during the first phase of the project.

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This initial phase is expected to last from May 5, through May 21.

During this time, admission will be free to the open buildings and exhibits.

What should be expected for the rest of the year for the Split Rock Lighthouse project?

Once the first phase of the project is completed, the Minnesota Historical Society says the site will be open during regular business hours for summer and fall, and visitor access will once again be restored to the lighthouse, fog signal building, and oil house.

The MHS says there will be some potential programming changes due to the project, which is expected to wrap up in late October of 2025.

You can keep up on the latest with the project throughout the year on the MHS website for Split Rock Lighthouse.