More than 100 Years of Service
Before we became the Lighthouse Center for Vital Living......
1919
Bertha Hanford, a Duluth resident, gathered community support for establishing a workshop for people who were blind where they could earn a living. In 1921 the project became the St. Louis County Association for the Blind.
The Association maintained a Lighthouse for the Blind in Duluth, MN and a Broom Factory in Chisholm, MN. Quoting from the 1923 Annual Report, "The Lighthouse for the Blind is a social center, workshop, and salesroom for the blind, where any person so handicapped may be trained in handicrafts and have the opportunity to engage in remunerative occupations."
1933
The Association changed its name to the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind.
1955
The Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind affiliated with National Industries for the Blind, and became eligible to receive government contracts for manufacturing.
1962
Social Services became part of the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind's program offerings through the generosity of the Duluth Lions Club.
1974
With the help of a grant from the State of Minnesota, a vision rehabilitation teacher was added to the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind's staff. This position enabled services to be provided in the homes of clients throughout Northeastern Minnesota.
With the help of a grant from the State of Minnesota, a vision rehabilitation teacher was added to the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind's staff. This position enabled services to be provided in the homes of clients throughout Northeastern Minnesota.
1975
Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind moved to a new building allowing for more space to expand manufacturing capacity.
1976
A Rehabilitation Center was added to the program offerings expanding the rehabilitation staff to include an on-site vision rehabilitation teacher and a mobility instructor.
1980s
The Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind moved to location, 4505 W Superior Street, Duluth MN.
1990s
The Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind closed the manufacturing facility for blind and visually impaired workers and directed all programming efforts on providing vision rehabilitation training.
2011
The Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind changed the name of the organization, becoming the Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss.
2012
The Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss launched the Safe at Home with Vision Loss for Seniors initiative. With support from a Live Well at Home Grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Safe at Home program brought low vision services to seniors living in Southern St. Louis and Carlton Counties.
2014
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The Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss developed the Transition Program for teens with vision loss. Students from all over the state came to the Lighthouse for training and to build skills needed for success after high school.
2015
The Safe at Home with Vision Loss for Seniors initiative received additional grant support from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to expand across the 7-county Arrowhead region of Northeastern Minnesota.
2019
The Lighthouse celebrated 100 years of serving people with vision loss at a memorable event at the Duluth Depot in June.
In the fall of 2019, the Lighthouse expanded their mission to provide services across all disability areas to help children, teens, and adults challenged by disabilities, vision loss and aging to live confident, independent and vibrant lives.
2020
The Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss changed their name to become the Lighthouse Center for Vital Living and officially adopted the new expanded mission statement.
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