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The structure was designed by lighthouse engineer Ralph Russell Tinkham and was completed in 1910 by the United States Lighthouse Service for $75,000, including the buildings and the land. It is considered one of the most picturesque lighthouses in the United States.
By the time of his retirement in 1946, Tinkham had become the chief engineer of the entire U.S. Lighthouse Service, and had planned and watched over the construction of stations in a number of harsh and unforgiving locations, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Ralph Russell Tinkham was an engineer who worked for the US Lighthouse Service for most of his career as a roving engineer. Split Rock Lighthouse was the first station Tinkham ever designed, and he spent a lot of time drawing plans while he was overseeing the construction of Rock of Ages Lighthouse.
Constructing Rock of Ages Lighthouse: Tinkham Tales. Over fifty years before the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway (1959), I was building lighthouses and related engineering projects in some of the most isolated regions of the Great Lakes and along their connecting waterways.
- Guardian of Lake Superior. The construction of Split Rock Lighthouse was prompted by the fury of a November gale in 1905, which wreaked havoc and caused the wreckage of nearly 30 ships along the Lake Superior coastline, necessitating the need for a reliable navigational aid.
- Masterful Engineering. Split Rock Lighthouse was designed by Ralph Russell Tinkham, an engineer for the Eleventh Lighthouse District in Detroit. The 54-foot-tall octagonal lighthouse showcases a riveted steel framework encased in buff-colored brick.
- Iconic Light and Beacon. Split Rock Lighthouse features a renowned signature light that has become an enduring symbol. Built in 1910, the lantern room at the top of the lighthouse’s 32-step spiral staircase houses the original French-built Fresnel lens.
- Preservation Efforts. The preservation and restoration of Split Rock Lighthouse began in the 1970s. The Minnesota Historical Society acquired the property and diligently worked to restore it to its original condition, ensuring its historical significance was preserved for future generations.
Split Rock Lighthouse was designed by Ralph Russell Tinkham, and construction of the station, atop the 130-foot cliff, started in June 1909. Excellent progress had been made when work was suspended for the season on November 21.
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May 31, 2012 · The octagonal structure, designed by engineer Ralph Russell Tinkham and completed in 1910, was built in response to the Mataafa Storm of 1905, which destroyed 29 ships on the lake.
