Michigan Lighthouses

{Winter Lighthouses}

2009-12-11T17:30:00.002-05:00

I found the most stunning collection of lighthouse photographs on Flickr today...this guy is awesome. Check it out!
Steve LaRose Photos

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse

2009-10-15T17:05:00.000-04:00

Photos by Gail Chapman

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse

Established: 1896
Status: Active
Location: Rogers City, MI
Type: Square/Integral brick duplex
Access: Car

Until the late 1890's the fifty mile stretch of shoreline between Cheboygan and Presque Isle Lighthouse was adark and threatening area to mariners. In 1894 Congress decided to appropriate $25,000 for a light station at Forty Mile Point.
The light was completed in 1896 and placed into operation in 1897.The Forty Mile Point Light stands 53 feet tall. At the top of the octagonal, latern room contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens displaying a flashing white light.

The structure is constructed of brick and has the keeper's quarters built into it. Painted white, the tower stands in sharp contrast to the natural brick of the keeper's dwelling. The architecture of the two-story dwelling is quite interesting and features a pair of dormers, one on either side of the tower. The station also has a brick oil house and fog signal building.

Down on the beach below the lighthouse is the rotting hull of a wooden ship wrecked here in the past. Visitors often walk the beach looking for puddingstones (remnants of volcanic eruption from millions of years ago.)

DIRECTIONS:
From the junction of US-23 and M-68, near Rogers City, go north on US-23 approximately 6.2 miles to an unmarked "Presque Isle County Lighthouse Park." The unmarked road, with a steel gate by the highway, is 2 miles north of P.H. Hoeft State Park and is not 40 Mile Point Rd., which you will also pass.) Follow the short road about one block to a "T" intersection. A parking area is to the right and the lighthouse to the left.

Michigan City Pier Light

2009-10-14T06:00:00.006-04:00

Michigan City East Pier
Established: 1904
Status: Active
Location: Indiana
Type: Octagonal/integral
Access: Car

Directions:
Take 421 North into Michigan City, through downtown and to the Lakeshore. As 421 intersects with Lakeshore Drive, continue North into the park. The old shore lighthouse museum is to the left, and the pier light is to the east and approximately 1/4 mile further north around the Marina.

Michigan City Old Lighthouse Museum

2009-10-13T16:26:00.002-04:00

The Old Lighthouse Museum
Michigan City, Indiana

Learn more about this Lighthouse Museum here:
http://www.oldlighthousemuseum.org/

Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival

2009-10-09T16:38:00.002-04:00

This weekend is the 14th Annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena, Michigan.Bryan Laviolette has a wonderful web site that will be covering the festivities over the weekend...michiganwllz.com be sure to check it out and also the web site www.lighthousefestival.org the offical Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival site. Keep the lights burning! :)

Jacobsville Lighthouse

2009-09-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Portage River (Jacobsville Lighthouse)
Established:(1856) 1870
Status: Inactive; private residence
Location:(MI) Portage River Entrance
Type: Conical brick tower and attached dwelling
Access: Car

The Portage River Light overlooks Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay. The present structure was built in 1870. The tower stands 65 feet tall and has a red lantern room. It is now a private residence. Directions to this light can be found in the town of Jacobsville, but it is on privately owned property. In April 2005 it became a Bed & Breakfast.

Jacobsville Lighthouse

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

2009-09-08T16:44:00.001-04:00

Photo By Raymond J. Malace

Point Iroquois Lighthouse
Established: (1855) 1871
Decommissioned: 1962

Location: Mouth of the St. Mary's River
above the Soo Locks
Type: Conical brick tower
Access: Car

The Point Iroquois Light was first illuminated in 1857 and its Fourth Order Fresnel lens shone over one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - the entrance to the St. Mary's River and the Soo Locks.

Point Iroquois became busier with each passing year, and it's personnel and facilities required to run the station grew accordingly. In 1870 the house and tower were completely rebuilt, and after the turn of the century the living space was enlarged to house the head keeper, two assistant keepers, and their families.For more than a hundred years, the Point Iroquois Light performed its duties, but in 1962, its light was extingished in favor of a beacon farther out in the water.

Today, the lighthouse and tower have been renovated thanks to the concerted efforts of the Bay Mills/Brimley Historical Research Society and the current land owner, the National Forest Service.

The historical society has renovated the interior of the house, added antiques and memorabilia have been arranged to show what life is like during this lighthouses heydey. Informative displays fill several rooms, and the gift shop sells lighthouse theme souvenirs and a wide variety of books on Michigan's nautical and natural history. The 65 foot tower is also open to the public during certian viewing hours. From its top you have a wonderful view of the sandy shoreline as it stretches out of sight and of Canada, across the water to the north.

DIRECTIONS:
In Brimley where M-221 dead ends at Lake Superior, turn left onto 6 Mile Rd (called Lakeshore Dr. near the lighthouse) and go about 7.5 miles.

Big Bay Point Lighthouse

2009-08-28T07:34:00.000-04:00

Big Bay Point Lighthouse
Big Bay, Michigan
Established 1896
Automated: 1945
Sold in 1961
Active - private aid to navigation

Big Bay is one of the most beautiful on the Great Lakes. Its view from atop a bluff nearly 100 feet above the waves of lake Superior.
Big Bay Lighthouse is one of only two lighthouses in Michigan that operates as a bed and breakfast inn. The other light is Sand Hills Lighthouse.

The lighthouse is in excellent condition. It is a large dwelling, made of red brick with limestone reinforcements at the corners and above the first story windows.A small automated Coast Guard beacon in the yard nearby is now used as the navigational aid. The light's original Fresnel lens is on display in the old fog whistle building.

For information on staying overnight at the lighthouse visit their website:
Big Bay Point

DIRECTIONS:
From Wright St. on the north edge of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, turn north onto Sugar Loaf Ave., which turns into County Rd. 550, and go about 25 miles to Big Bay. Follow CR-550 to the north end of Big Bay, then turn right (east) onto Dam Road. Follow Dam Road approximately 2 miles to a "T" intersection. Turn left (north) onto Lighthouse Road and go about a mile to the lighthouse. The Big Bay Lighthouse is a private residence that is run as a bed and breakfast.

Mendota - Bete Gris Lighthouse

2009-08-27T07:21:00.001-04:00

Mendota (Bete Grise) Lighthouse
Established: (1870) 1895
Decommissioned: 1960
Reactivated: July 5, 1998
Location: (MI) Mendota Ship Channel
Type: Square/integral brick
Access: Car to edge of channel

The Bete Grise or Mendota Lighthouse is now a private residence on the shore of the Mendota Ship Canal, which connects Lac LaBelle to Keweenaw Bay. The house is a pale yellow two story dwelling with brown trim. The attached tower is also painted yellow. The parapet rises just above the roof line, but the latern room is now empty. You may view the light from across the canal.

DIRECTIONS:
From US-41 approximately one mile east of Delaware, turn south onto the road to Lac LaBelle. Go 4.5 miles to Lac LaBelle, then turn left and follow the main road (turn sharply south at Bete Grise) about 4.5 miles to its end, at the Mendota Ship Canal. From there you can see and take pictures of the lighthouse which is across the canal.

Au Sable Point Lighthouse

2009-08-26T07:17:00.001-04:00

Au Sable Point Lighthouse
Location: Grand Marais,Michigan
Established: 1874
Status: Active
Type: Conical brick tower and attached brick dwelling
Access: Car/then hike by foot

Au Sable Point lighthouse was built to help navigate sailors in their dreaded journey, along the eighty miles of dark shoreline that stretch from Grand Island Lighthouse to the famed light on Whitefish Point.

An eighty-seven foot brick tower was built on a rise, placing the light about 107 feet above the lake service. The attatched, two-story brick keeper's dwelling was spacious, but also one of the most remote mainland stations in America. The nearest town Grand Marais, was more than a dozen miles away and there was no road. Lighthouse keepers either hiked in or came by boat.

In 1958, the Coast Guard automated the light turning the property and buildings over to the National park Service for inclusion in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The light remains active, but it's old Fresnel lens has been removed and placed in the Nautical and Maritime Museum in Grand Marais.

DIRECTIONS:
Just as its keepers once did, visitors must walk to the lighthouse. It is located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula. From Highway 28 take Highway 77 north about 25 miles to Grand Marais. The lighthouse is a distance from the park headquarters in Grand Marais.

Marquette Harbor Light

2009-08-25T07:12:00.005-04:00

Marquette Harbor Light
Established:(1853) 1866
Status: Active
Location: Lake Superior (MI)
North of Marquette downtown waterfront
Type: Square/integral brick
Access: Car/foot

From Marquette's downtown harbor front, this light can be seen as it sits atop a massive rock. The scene is somewhat like a castle on the lake. Both the light and its attached quarters are an imposing sight. Resting on a stone bluff, its bright-red sides dominate the horizon, and the adjoining square tower looks powerfully out toward Lake Superior.The lantern room and windows are both painted white, but the metal roof and ventilator ball of the tower are painted red.

This is an active Coast Guard station and access to the public is not permitted, but you may get close. If you visit the local maritime museum and gift shop it will allow you to get close enough to walk within photo distance of the station.

DIRECTIONS:
On the south side of Marquette where US-41/M-28 makes a 90 degree bend, go north onto Front St., drive about 6 blocks until you pass under the Soo Line ore trestle, then turn right (east) at the next street, which is Main. Go one block on Main and turn left (north) onto Lakeshore Blvd. As Lakeshore bears right (east), look for a large parking area on the right, at Ellwood Matteson Park. From there you can take a boat tour of the Marquette area that includes the water views of all three Marquette-area lights. For cruise information and schedules, call Marquette Harbor Cruises at (906) 225-1777.

Gull Rock Lighthouse

2009-08-24T07:02:00.004-04:00

Gull Rock Lighthouse
Established:1867
Status: Active
Location: Lake Superior (MI) 2 miles
due east of Keweenaw Point
Type: Square/integral brick
Access: Boat

Gull Rock is located about two miles off the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, between the mainland and Manitou Island in Lake Superior. The brick schoolhouse style light stands on little more than a "rock" and is a roost for seagulls.

This lighthouse must have been one of the loneliest assignments a Lake Superior lighthouse keeper would have to endure. The island is so small that during stormy weather waves wash over the entire area, leaving only the house and its square brick tower to withstand the forces of nature. The original optic of this lighthouse has been replaced with a 250mm plastic lens, and a solar powered light.

Gull Rock is abandoned and closed to the public. You may view it from the deck of a boat, but the area is dangerous because of reefs in the area. You should not approach too near the island.

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse

2009-08-21T07:19:00.003-04:00

Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Built: (1851) 1871
Status: Active; museum
Type: Octagonal brick tower
and attached dwelling
Access: Car

This light is located 32 miles northeast of Houghton. A fog signal building was added in 1895. It is still an active light and the keepers dwelling is operated as a public museum.

I think Eagle Harbor is one of my most memorable lighthouses. After making a journey of some seven hours from the Mackinac Bridge up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor, I was sadly disappointed to find the only way to get to Copper Harbor Lighthouse was via boat. That June, the black fly season was still present. I had suffered severely from bites while viewing Copper Harbor from the beach. The following day, my entire face was swollen like a balloon.

Deciding to return home, one last car ride brought me upon Eagle Harbor Lighthouse. I was able to view it closely, and enjoyed a wonderful gift/book store called they had on the grounds. The owner Patricia Van Pelt, made an extra effort to show my children some of the unusual games, books, etc. she had on the premises. I enjoyed talking to her about what it was like to live so far north, and the severe winters they experience there!

The Keweenaw County Historical Society operates a fascinating nautical and historical museum in the lighthouse and surrounding buildings. The museum is open from mid-June through September, seven days a week, noon to 5 p.m.

Directions:
As you enter Eagle Harbor from the west on M-26, where the highway turns sharply right (south) at the harbor and beach area, do not turn right but rather go left and onto a short road that goes up over a small hill and through a gate into a fenced-in lighthouse parking area.

{St. Joseph Lighthouse - Colorized Photos}

2009-08-18T07:42:00.004-04:00

I wanted to share two photos of St. Joseph Lighthouse that I altered using Paint Shop Pro. The first is a negative image with color added, and the second had the colorize tool using Aqua. Both give quite stormy effects - don't you think?

St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouse

2009-08-12T18:02:00.000-04:00

St. Joseph North Pier
Established: (1832, 1859, 1898) 1907
Status: Active
Location: Lake Michigan at the mought of the St. Joseph River
Type: Cylindrical/Octagonal integral, cast iron
Access: Car/foot from Tiscornia Park

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

2009-08-11T10:55:00.000-04:00

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Location:Mackinaw City, Michigan
Established: 1892
Decommisioned: 1957

The lighthouse was originally built to increase the range lights in the area, since navigators approaching from the east could not see McGulpin's Point Light. First, in 1890 a fog signal was constructed, then two years later the light began shining across the Straits.

When the Mackinac Bridge over the Straits of Mackinac opened in 1957, Old Mackinac Point Light was no longer needed. Vessels could rely on the lights from the bridge. In 1960 the lighthouse was converted into a maritime museum.The colorful tile roof gives this lighthouse a festive appearance. This lighthouse is located in Mackinaw City on the Lake Huron side.

DIRECTIONS:From exit 336 off I-75, follow Nicolet Avenue through Mackinaw City, then turn right on Huron Avenue. About 2 blocks down is the parking area for the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. The area around the lighthouse is a park with plenty of picnic tables and a wonderful view of the Mackinac Bridge.

Grand Haven Light

2009-08-09T07:35:00.000-04:00

© Photo by Dave Vaughn

Grand Haven Light
Established: (1839) Outer 1875, Inner 1905
Status: Active
Location: (MI) South shore of the Grand River, on the pier
Type: Square integral and conical
Access: Car

Grand Haven is the site of two lights. The outer light is a wood building sheathed in steel, and the Inner Light is a conical cast iron tower. The Inner Light was originally built in 1839, ten moved and rebuilt in 1905. It has a 51-foot tall tower and is painted fire engine red. Both lights are painted red and connect via a catwalk.

Most buildings such as the outer light were not constructed to have lighthouse keepers and their families dwelling there, although it could be done. These big buildings were actually built to hold giant marine boilers that powered their fog signals.

Directions:
From Us-31 in Grand Haven about one mile north of the south city limits sign, turn onto Franklin Ave. (west) and go 0.8 miles to South Harbor Drive. Turn left (south) onto South Harbor and go 0.9 miles to the Grand Haven State Park and lighthouse.

St. Helena Island Lighthouse

2009-08-08T07:30:00.003-04:00

St. Helena Island Lighthouse
Established: 1873
Automated in 1923
Location: 6 Miles west of Mackinac Bridge
Type: Conical brick with attached dwelling
Access: Boat/Ferry Tour

Located on mile from the Upper Peninsula shoreline near the Straits of Mackinac lies the beautiful island of St. Helena. This is one lighthouse that I have not been able to reach ~ but have enjoyed viewing late at night from a friend's cottage that I have frequently stayed at on the Straits next to the Mackinaw Bridge.Watching ships and the flicker of St. Helena's light late at night, can give you goosebumps, a feeling of loneliness and desertion, much like the island itself.

For over three centuries, native Americans, fur traders, and countless others in small vessels have all taken refuge in the natural harbor on the island's north side. The first group of permanent residents were fishermen and their families, who built homes in the 1830s, and by the time the first lighthouse was established, in 1873, a prosperous town stood on the north shore.
Everyone, including the many visitors who briefly went ashore during refueling stops by steamships, was charmed by the simplicity and beauty of the island.

During the winter months, when the lake froze between the island and Gros Cap, a small settlement on the mainland shore, the island also welcomed visitors. On holidays and other special occasions during the late-19th and early 20th centuries, party-goers could take a three-hour sleigh ride from St. Ignace overland to Gros Cap then out to the island. Crossing the two-mile span of ice however, wasn't always easy. In 1913 the lighthouse keeper had to rescue two men who had lost their way while attempting the trip!

In 1923 - only 50 years after it had been built - the lighthouse was automated and its buildings were practically abandoned.

In 1986 the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association (GLLKA), a private organization made up of some 1,700 individuals dedicated to the preservation of lighthouses, took an unusual and wonderful step. They obtained a lease to the lighthouse property and began the task of restoring the St. Helena Light.

Time had not been kind to the tower and keeper's dwelling. The roof had holes throughout it, fire had damaged the second floor, and chunks of fallen plaster littered the floors. Making repairs was even more difficult because materials and work crews had to be taken by boat to the island.

The GLLKA decided it couldn't handle the huge undertaking alone, so some of it's members contacted local Boy Scout organizations in their areas. Troops 4 and 61 in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Troop 200 in Calumet/Laurium, Michigan quickly agreed to play a major role in the restoration.

Every summer since 1989, the scouts and GLLKA volunteers have spent hundreds of man-hours helping to restore the structure,even including such details as erecting bird houses and bat houses. Four scouts attained the rank of Eagle Scout, in part by developing projects associated with the saving of the lighthouse.

Today, the two-story brick house stands with pride on its tall stone foundation. From the top of the tower, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the island.

An unusual story.....from Tim Kimball

"My story begins with a family trip to the U.P. when I was twelve years old.On the way back down I threw a bottle with a screw-on cap off of the bridge.19 years later I got a call from a kid that grew up in my neighborhood. He was doing some construction on the St. Helena lighthouse, there were also some cub scouts there (the ones that you mention on your page) doing some clean-up. Well, one of the scouts found my bottle, they saw the note in it and opened it up. They were amazed that the note was 19 years old, and even more amazed when my friend said that he knew me.

Since I had moved out of town he had to get with some of our mutual friends to find my new phone number, but he did get it.
We all got together for a dinner where we talked and did some photos. The Cub scout who found it was twelve years old, the same age that I was when I launched the bottle. They gave me a St. Helena T-shirt that I still wear."

Point Betsie Lighthouse

2009-08-07T07:21:00.006-04:00

Point Betsie Lighthouse
Established: 1858
Status: Active
Near Frankfort, Michigan
Type: Round/integral brick tower and dwelling
Access: Car

Point Betsie is a very important light for mariners because it marks the spot where ships begin the turn towards the Manitou Passage. It wasn't fully automated until 1983, making it the last manned lighthouse on mainland Michigan today.

This lighthouse tower stands only 37 feet tall. This light continued to serve as a Coast Guard residence until the winter of 1996 when the boiler failed forcing the families to vacate due to lack of heat. In February 1996, the rotating mechanism for the Fresnel lens failed and the lens was removed and put on display at the Sleeping Bear Dunes Maritime Museum.

DIRECTIONS:
From the junction of M-115 and M-22, go west then north approximately 5.6 miles to Pt. Betsie Rd. Turn left (west) onto Pt. Betsie Rd. and go about 0.7 miles to its end. The lighthouse is on the right, the abandoned Coast Guard buildings on the left.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

2009-08-06T07:10:00.000-04:00

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
Port Huron, Michigan
Established: (1825) and 1829
Status: Active
Location: Lake Huron/St. Clair River
Type: Conical, brick
Access: foot

Established in 1825, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is Michigan's oldest light, older than the state itself, which was admitted to the Union in 1837. Today, the station still keeps watch over the Lake Huron entrance to the St. Clair River.

The Fort Gratiot Light is near the Blue Water bridge which links Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario Canada. A short distance upstream is the lightship Huron, in the city of Port Huron's Pine Grove Park. The last U.S. lightship to serve on the Great Lakes, it is a National Historic Landmark.

The first keeper of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was George McDougal, a Detroit lawyer. It was not a wonderful job for him, as it depleted his personal savings keeping the station habitable. The tower was not built to goverment specifications, the materials used were shoddy, and McDougal discovered it unsafe. He was correct. The tower fell down, and a more robust structure replaced it in 1829.

Today, the tower stands more than eighty feet tall. Automated in 1933, it's light has a focal plane eighty-six feet above lake level. The conical stone tower, overlaid with red brick, has been painted white. The keeper's cottage and fog whistle house are red. Above the tower, a red dome covers the lantern room.

The lighthouse was not open the day I took this photograph, but I was able to get a snapshot from the park grounds adjacent to it.

DIRECTIONS:
From I-94 take Pine Grove Street (M-25) north, then turn right onto Garfield Street and follow Gratiot Avenue. The lighthouse is only open a few times a year, and is located on a Coast Guard facility. Parking is available in the area. For information on tours call (313) 982-0891 or ask at the nearby Huron Lightship Museum.

South Haven Light

2009-08-05T08:30:00.005-04:00

South Haven
Established: (1872) 1903
Status: Active
Location: Michigan
Type: Conical, cast iron
Access: Car

The South Haven Light is similar to the one at St. Joseph as it is located at the end of a concrete pier.The light was originally constructed in 1872 and rebuilt shortly after the turn of the century. It is a round red steel structure and is topped with a black parapet. When waves wash the pier, workers can still reach the light by using a catwalk that extends from shore to the second story of the structure.

The light is a favorite among photographers especially when the sun sets. South Haven is slowly becoming a tourist mecca with wonderful shops and eating establishments.

DIRECTIONS
From I-96 take exit 20 and follow business route 196 (Phoenix Street) heading west about 1 mile where BR-196 turns left (south) on to Broadway St. Continue straight ahead (west) on Phoenix Street (which changes to Water Street) about 7 blocks to the south beach parking area. The light is located to the right of the parking area.

Holland Harbor Lighthouse

2009-08-04T15:04:00.005-04:00

Holland Harbor Lighthouse
Location: Holland, Michigan
Established: (1872,1880) 1907, 1936
Type: Square/integral, cast iron
Access: Car/foot

The town of Holland,Michigan is best known for it's Tulip Festival. Held every year, it attracts thousands of visitors. However, most tourists leave without seeing Holland Harbor Lighthouse, also known as "Big Red."

The lighthouse is a large three-story building - topped with a gray-shingled roof and a square tower. In my eyes, it is one of the most unusual lights in Michigan. The twin-gabled structure reflects the Dutch influence in the area."Big Red" stands at the end of a long pier connecting Lake Macatawa to Lake Michigan.In 1936 the current light tower was added to the top of one of the gables, and the entire building was covered with steel plates.

DIRECTIONS:
From US-31 in Holland,turn west onto 8th St. (S. Business Rte 31) and go one mile to Columbia. Turn right (north) onto Columbia and go one block to 7th St. Turn left (west) onto 7th and go 3 blocks to River Ave. Turn right (north) onto River and go one mile to Douglas Avenue. Turn left (west) onto Douglas (which changes to Ottawa Beach Road) and go 6 miles to Holland State Park's Ottawa Beach parking area. A daily or annual vehicle permit is required for entry.

Beaver Head Lighthouse

2009-08-04T14:58:00.005-04:00

Photo by Phyllis Fitzpatrick
Beaver Head Lighthouse
Established:(1852) 1858
Status: Inactive
Decommissioned: 1962
Location: South end of Beaver Island
Type: Conical, brick with attached dwelling
Access: Car

This light is located at Beaver Head, at the southern end of Beaver Island and marks the west side of the approach used by most vessels passing from Lake Michigan into the Straits of Mackinac. The first tower on this site was built in 1852 but was rebuilt into this present tower in 1858. The keeper's house was added in 1866.

The keeper's brick house is painted light yellow. It rests on an old foundation of field stones. The house itself could easily accommodate two families, a second story house was added onto the back of the structure. The structure sits on a bluff high above Lake Michigan. During the summer months from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. you can climb the tower and view the beautiful waters below.Restoration of this light is one of the ongoing projects included in a state-run project called the Youth Employment Training Project. Directors and participants come from the Charlevoix Community School District and students can receive credit for time spent working on the project.

Directions:

You can reach the island by either car ferry or regularly scheduled airplane flights, both out of Charlevoix, Michigan.
The 18-minute flight costs about $50 per person; the ferry ride takes about 31/2 hours and costs approximately $100 for a family of four and their vehicle.

Ferries depart at least once a day from Beaver Island Boat dock, on the east side of US-31, just south of the drawbridge in downtown Charlevoix. If you are taking a vehicle to the island, reservations are a must, are are recommended either way. For a current ferry schedule and rates call (616) 547-2311.

The Island Airways flight lift off from Charlevoix Municipal Airport, on US-31 just south of the M-66 junction. For flight information call (616)547-2141.

Beaver Island Harbor Light

2009-08-04T14:42:00.009-04:00

Photo by Gail Bliss

Beaver Island Harbor Light or St. James Harbor Light
Established: (1856) and 1870
Status: Active
Location: (MI) Beaver Island
Type: Conical
Access: Carferry

Elizabeth Van Riper is a respected resident from Beaver Island's past. She lived in the lighthouse on St. James Harbor with her husband who was the keeper. But like so many of his fellow keepers he died while trying to rescue people from a boat. Elizabeth applied to continue on as keeper of the harbor light after her husband's death. Her request was granted and she performed her duties with great care. In 1884, she married Daniel Williams and they moved to the mainland at Harbor Point Light.
Old photo of the light
All that remains of The Beaver Island Harbor Light (also known as the St. James Harbor Light) is the 41-foot-tall tower. It stands on a narrow peninsula that juts out into the St. James Harbor near the edge of town. The present tower replaced a shorter one that had been built in 1856. The white cylindrical is capped by a black cast iron parapet. A small window near the top looks out over the harbor. This now automated light is still active.

Directions:
You can reach the island by either car ferry or regularly scheduled airplane flights, both out of Charlevoix, Michigan.The 18-minute flight costs about $50 per person; the ferry ride takes about 31/2 hours and costs approximately $100 for a family of four and their vehicle.

Ferries depart at least once a day from Beaver Island Boat dock, on the east side of US-31, just south of the drawbridge in downtown Charlevoix. If you are taking a vehicle to the island, reservations are a must, are are recommended either way. For a current ferry schedule and rates call (616) 547-2311.The Island Airways flight lift off from Charlevoix Municipal Airport, on US-31 just south of the M-66 junction. For flight information call (616) 547-2141.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Tour

2009-08-04T08:31:00.002-04:00

McGulpin Point Light Relighting

2009-08-04T07:47:00.005-04:00

Photograph by Dave Wobser
McGulpin Point Light relighting, May 30 2009

Read more on this beautiful light here:
http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/McGulpin-Point.htm

{Grosse Ile North Channel Lighthouse}

2009-08-04T07:36:00.000-04:00

Grosse Ile North Channel

Front Range Light

Grosse Ile, Michigan

Established: (1894) 1906

Status: Inactive

Location: Lower Detroit River

Type:Octagonal wooden tower

Access: Boat

The structure is in good condition considering it was built in 1906. It stands 40 feet tall and was deactivated in 1963. The octagonal white tower is beautiful, each face is sided with horizontal wood strips like clapboards on an old house. Near the middle the structure angles inward and narrows. The eight sided lantern room is empty now. The light is currently is the property of the Grosse Isle Historical Society. The other tower in this range is reported as being "lost" prior to 1940. The Grosse Ile Historical Society will give tours of this light. Since it is on private land, visitors must be escorted to the light by members of the society. Grosse Ile Lighthouse is opened to the public just one day each year-typically the second Sunday in September. If you would like a tour, write to:

Grosse Ile Historical Society

East River Road Parkway

P.O. Box 131

Grosse Ile, MI 48138

{Detroit River Lighthouse}

2009-08-04T07:28:00.001-04:00

Detroit River Light
Detroit River, Lake Erie Michigan
Built: 1885 Status: Active
Location: South Rockwood, Michigan
Type:Conical, cast iron
Access: Boat

Detroit River Lighthouse marks the Southern end of the Detroit River where Lake Erie enters the river. Great Lakes traffic moves North along the river, through Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, and then into Lake Huron.

The 49-foot conical tower is constructed of cast iron, painted white on the lower half and black on the upper. It sits atop a cement crib. It was automated in 1979, and is maintained by the Coast Guard. It is not open to the public.