A Visit to Two Harbors, MN

Two Harbors is the county seat of Lake County, Minnesota. The town owes its existence to the discovery of iron ore, a vital resource during World War II used to build military equipment: ships, tank, etc. The Duluth & Iron Range (D&IR) transported the ore by rail. We visited the Duluth & Iron Depot when we stopped in town on October 4th, 2022. The depot was a hub for moving people and goods from 1907 to 1961. Locomotives and cars are on display along with signage relating their history.

Next, we headed toward the waterfront to check out the light station, the iron ore docks, the picturesque trails around it and the Two Harbor Lighthouse. By 1885, 225,000 tons of ore were being transported through Two Harbors -known then as Agate Bay. This increase required building a lighthouse. The Two Harbors Lighthouse was built and became operational in 1892. It is listed on the National Register of Historical places. While in town, we also made a brief stop to check out Pierre the pantsless voyageur, a 20ft statue that has stood alongside the Voyageur motel since 1960. It was brought by the motel owners to attract customers.

Two Harbors is a scenic, picturesque town of 3,500 people. It is worth a stop when in the vicinity. We spent a delightful day wandering its quaint downtown streets, admiring flowers baskets hanging outside its little shops and restaurants, and visiting its train depot, waterfront and lighthouse.

Reference Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Duluth & Iron Depot, Two Harbors Lighthouse, North Shore Visitor, Pierre the Pantsless Voyageur