The Story of Split Rock Lighthouse

Introductory Film
Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors – 2014

Split Rock Lighthouse is one of the Minnesota Historical Society’s premier historic sites. Now a major tourist attraction, it once played a crucial role in guiding ships through the often tumultuous waters of Lake Superior. This 13-minute introductory film draws on the drama of storms and shipwrecks on Lake Superior — in particular, the great storm of 1905, which was the impetus to build the lighthouse. Using first-person accounts from newspapers, storm survivors, lighthouse builders, and keepers, the film touches on the industry that shaped the region, the construction of the lighthouse, and the tourism that eventually became the role of the site.

The film features a wide variety of dramatic cinematography and visual effects, including aerial, underwater, storm, and time-lapse footage as well as a computer-generated sequence depicting the 1905 storm. The story is also enhanced with surround sound audio. The Story of Split Rock Lighthouse plays continuously in the site’s visitor center theater, which was revamped with a new sounds system, screen, and projection equipment the year the film was produced.

Role:
Producing, creative and technical direction, director of photography, media and system design
(On staff with the Minnesota Historical Society)