To Grand Marais, MNAug 25, 2008
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Lighthouse at Two Harbors
Middle and Lower Falls at Gooseberry Falls State Park
Split Rock Lighthouse
Father Baraga's Cross
I had a late breakfast at a Perkins not far from my hotels, then I had an errand: I was asked to find the grave of Edward Mattke, one of the founders of Alpha Chi Sigma, in the Forest Hills Cemetery in Duluth, which I did.
I then drove up to Two Harbors, which has a nice lighthouse (open for tours, though I didn't go in; also operates as a bed and breakfast) as well as a long breakwall you can walk out on, which gives a good view of the ore-loading docks there.
I next went to Gooseberry Falls State Park, where the Gooseberry River goes over a number of falls. Three of the falls are an easy walk from the visitor center; a fourth is a nice mile-long hike upriver.
It was already getting to be early evening by this point, so I didn't make any more long stops on the way to Grand Marais, but I did make two brief stops. First, at a roadside overlook which had a good view of the dramatic Split Rock lighthouse, perched on top of a cliff. The lighthouse itself is in a state park, but I didn't go into the park. Second, I saw a sign from the main road to "Father Baraga's Cross." I was aware Father, later Bishop, Frederic Baraga had been active in Wisconsin and Michigan but didn't know he had made it up here. Turns out he took a boat across the lake after hearing of an epidemic among Native Americans in Grand Portage. After a sudden, unexpected storm came up on the lake they managed to take shelter here, and Father Baraga erected a small wooden cross in gratitude, which was later replaced by this granite cross.
After checking into my hotel, I had a wonderful dinner at The Angry Trout here, a restaurant which focuses on organic, local ingredients.
