Split Rock Lighthouse Honors Gordon Lightfoot with Beacon Lighting

Beacon will be lit from 9 pm–11pm in honor of the singer-songwriter

TWO HARBORS, Minn. (May 3, 2023) – The man who wrote “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” will be honored with a special lighting of the beacon at Split Rock Lighthouse tonight (May 3). Gordon Lightfoot passed away Monday at the age of 84.

Lightfoot’s song about the shipwreck that took the lives of 29 crew members resonates with lighthouse visitors today, and can be heard almost daily being played on guests’ phones. The lighthouse lights its beacon every November 10th in honor of the Edmund Fitzgerald’s crew who were lost at sea.

“Gordon Lightfoot was a storyteller,” said Split Rock Lighthouse Site Manager Hayes Scriven. “His song resonated with so many people and made them feel as if they were there for the tragedy. We felt compelled to honor his legacy with tonight’s lighting.”

The beacon will be lit from 9 pm–11 pm tonight (May 3). The historic site and visitor center will be closed. Visitors can park at the state park to see the light with a state park sticker.

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.