Love lighthouses and the maritime industry? Reader, you’ll want to stay tuned. There is some major maritime news affecting Duluth, Canal Park, and the Lakewalk.
The Duluth Harbor South Breakwater Outer Light (often shortened to just “the South Pier Lighthouse”) is now under new ownership. This amazing structure sits right on Duluth’s shipping canal and is immediately adjacent to the Lakewalk.
Post-sale, the future for the lighthouse looks incredibly bright (pun intended). Plans include getting it freshened up, repaired, and eventually opened to the public for tours. It will also continue being used as a functioning lighthouse.
In recent years, the lighthouse, which was previously owned by the federal government, was declared a “surplus property.” In summary, the government decided they didn’t want to handle the maintenance anymore.
Enter the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association (LSMMA). This Duluth-based 501(c)(3) non-profit – consisting of a 15-member Board, and supported by an office manager – jumped at the chance to acquire the lighthouse.
Priority was given to this organization due, in part, to its non-profit status and its mission of preserving maritime history for the Twin Ports. The transaction was officially closed in March 2025.
Two Experts
To research this story, Destination Duluth recently visited with two people “in the know:” Al Finlayson, who serves as a Board member and treasurer for the LSMMA. And, Scott Bjorklund, who works at Duluth’s Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center … often simply shortened to “The Maritime Museum.”
Bjorklund’s technical title is Park Ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers, but he is also heavily involved with the LSMMA by representing the Corps. He’s considered an ambassador, helping them with projects and attending their Board meetings.
Together, these two men have a wealth of knowledge on Duluth’s shipping industry. This includes the recent sale of (and future plans for) the lighthouse.
History
Bjorklund shared some intriguing details about the lighthouse’s history. “It was designed by the Army Corps of Engineers, and built in 1901 for the US Lighthouse Board,” he explained.
“I’m not sure which company built the structure, but I’m guessing it was a local contractor,” he added. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find that information.”
The lighthouse (which is technically a “light station”) has served strictly utilitarian purposes since being built. “The light station has been used to mark the end of the South Pier of the Duluth shipping canal, helping to safely guide vessels in and out of the Duluth ship canal,” Bjorklund noted. “I don’t believe the light has ever been opened to the public.
“Mariners would use both this light and the inner light closer to the Aerial Lift Bridge – to help them line up with the canal for arrival. The inner light was built to be taller than the front so that they could be seen at the same time.”
Finlayson added another cool fact about the lighthouse. “During this process, we learned that there was an old tunnel located underneath the pier, which is now filled in. The tunnel was used for the lighthouse keepers to get to work on inclement weather days.”
Technology
We asked Bjorklund about how the evolution of “lighthouse technology” has changed over the years. He explained, “From its construction in 1901 until 2014, the station was equipped with a Fourth Order Fresnel lens that had an electric bulb.
“Fourth order refers to the size and distance the light can be seen (a common size for the Great Lakes). The 1870s-constructed lens was replaced in 2014 by an LED light and placed in the Visitor Center for display.
“And, the larger building attached to the tower was built to house the fog signaling system, which was powered by steam boilers (requiring lots of space). The steam was connected to a large whistle that was fixed to the front of the station.
“That whistle and steam system was replaced in 1923 with 2 Type F Diaphone horns (air horns), powered by compressed air. These were then replaced by an electric fog signal in 1968.”
Details about the Lighthouse “Keepers”
Until 1976, the South Pier Lighthouse had local keepers. Bjorklund explained, “The three lights at the Duluth ship canal were operated by one head lighthouse keeper and two assistant keepers. They lived in homes built on Park Point, only a block away from the Aerial Lift Bridge. These homes still exist today!
“The station had these active personnel until things became automated in 1976,” he added. “From then on, the Coast Guard only needed to visit the building occasionally to check the equipment, or if something failed.”
Maintenance and Upgrades
Fast forward to today. Finlayson shared that the lighthouse needs some pretty significant repairs. “Other than the Coast Guard, the lighthouse has been vacant for a long time, except for the pigeons,” he said. “So, there’s a mess in there.
“There is also lead paint both outside and inside the lighthouse, and the paint is flaking. The tile floors have asbestos. The front door was bent, rusted, and kicked in by vandals. We also need significant electrical upgrades.”
There is a lot more to it than standard maintenance, however. “The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so we are awaiting a historic structures report by LHB Engineering,” Finlayson noted. “All upgrades – including the new door – will need to be handled to keep things mostly as they were in the early 1900s.”
To complete all the required updates, a variety of local contractors/vendors will be used. Mavo will handle the cleaning. Benson Electric will install security cameras. ArchKey/Parsons Electric will do the electrical upgrades. And, LHB is the architect and engineer for the project, in addition to completing the historic structures report.
Funding
It probably comes as no surprise that the upgrades listed above are quite expensive. Funding for the project is coming from a variety of sources.
While LSMMA hopes to receive some financial grants, this is not a guarantee. “We’ll pay for these repairs through donations to LSMMA and by using our reserves,” Finlayson said.
And, when the lighthouse eventually opens up for public tours – which LSMMA hopes to make a reality by 2027 – entry fees will also help pay for ongoing maintenance.
Great for Duluth
LSMMA’s acquisition of the South Pier Lighthouse has been a long time coming. It has taken over six years for everything to fall into place.
Some of the red tape has included a lengthy application, application revisions, easement negotiations with the Coast Guard (the Coast Guard retains the right to maintain its navigational aids), and obtaining an environmental study. But now, the finish line is in sight. And this is glorious news for Duluth.
“The maritime industry has played such a big part of the growth of the Twin Ports,” Finlayson said. “Shipping iron ore, grain, and coal has helped Duluth grow.
“And these lighthouses played a critical role for getting these goods into the harbor. So, the lighthouses are a very important part of the history of this area.”
All stakeholders are incredibly excited about the future of the South Pier Lighthouse. “Congressman Stauber’s office was very helpful in helping us work with the Coast Guard and the Corps of Engineers,” Finlayson said. “I know Congressman Stauber and Mayor Reinert are both excited and want to visit.
“Beyond that, our whole LSMMA Board is very excited to be moving forward with this. It’s a good thing for the area, and good for the tourism business, too.”
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For more information, please visit destinationduluth.co/LSMMA
