The Lake County Historical Society is working with the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Duluth to upgrade the beacon at the Two Harbors Light Station.

The U.S. Coast Guard visited the lighthouse in December to provide guidance to the society in how to upgrade the over 50-year-old beacon to develop a solution that would increase reliability of the light, reduce operating costs and increase energy efficiency. 

The light will remain dark for maintenance while a long-term solution is sought.

Guests can peek at the light atop the tower at Two Harbors Light Station. Photo: Beverly Godfrey / [email protected]

The current beacon has been maintained for nearly 20 years by four volunteer keepers — Leon Jacobsen, Tom Koehler, Brad Ronning and Todd Ronning — who have dedicated extensive time and energy into the operation of the light. 

The Historical Society also notes that Joe Zastera played an integral part in installing the existing beacon in the lighthouse tower Sept. 6, 2000, with the help of U.S. Coast Guard personnel.

The beacon dates to 1969 and has been continuously operating in the Two Harbors Light Station for nearly 20 years. 

In this 2010 file photo, Bob Anderson, left, a former property manager for the Lake County Historical Society, and volunteer Joe Zastera, who led a effort to restore two 24-inch rotating beacon lights at the Two Harbors Light Station, look over the lights that lit the icon again 10 years before. Photo: File / Duluth News Tribune