Michigan Lighthouses: Eastern Lower Peninsula

The U.S. state of Michigan comes in two parts: the Lower Peninsula (between Lakes Huron and Michigan) and the Upper Peninsula (between Lakes Michigan and Superior). Putting the two together, the state has an astonishingly long coastline, so it is not surprising that Michigan has more lighthouses than any other U.S. state, by quite a large margin. The Directory has information on more than 130 sites. This lighthouse heritage is well recognized. Michigan is the only state that supports lighthouse preservation with a program of annual grants from the state to local preservation groups. All over the state, volunteers are working hard to save and restore lighthouses. There is a state preservation society, the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, and the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association is also based in the state. This page lists lighthouses on the east coast of the Lower Peninsula, including Lake Huron, the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, and Lake St. Clair. There's another page for the west coast (Lake Michigan) and a third for the Upper Peninsula. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. USCG numbers are from Volume VII of the United States Coast Guard Light List. What's Hot: Keepers needed for Tawas Point Light

Fort Gratiot Light, Port Huron, July 2005 Creative Commons photo by Joel Dinda

General Sources

Seeing the Lights: The Lighthouses of Michigan

A wonderful site by Terry Pepper, with fine photos, accounts of recent visits to many of the lighthouses, and extensive historical information.

Michigan Lighthouses

Excellent photos and information posted by Kraig Anderson.

Lighthouses of the Great Lakes

Maintained by Neil Schultheiss, this very fine site has excellent photos and accounts for most of the state's lighthouses.

National Maritime Inventory - Michigan

Inventory of Michigan lighthouse data.

Detroit River Lights

Photos taken in August 2007 and posted by Noah Greenia.

Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association

GLLKA encourages lighthouse preservation throughout the Great Lakes states, but it is best known for its work preserving the Round Island and St. Helena Island Lights in the Straits of Mackinac area.

Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy

This organization is dedicated to the preservation of lighthouses and life saving stations throughout the state.

Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival

Based in Alpena, the festival is held annually in mid October and supports preservation efforts, especially for lighthouses of northwest Lake Huron and the Mackinac Straits area.

Michigan Lighthouse Project

Information posted by the Michigan Department of State, which administers state grants for lighthouse preservation.

Lake Erie and Detroit River Lighthouses
Detroit River (Bar Point Shoal)

1885. Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); two white flashes every 6 s. 49 ft (15 m) round cast iron sparkplug tower with lantern and two galleries, incorporating 2-story keeper's house, attached to a 1-story wood fog signal building. The original 4° Fresnel lens, recently removed, is on loan to the Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven. The upper half of the lighthouse is painted black, lower half white; the roof of the fog signal building is red. Fog horn (one 3 s blast every 30 s). An October 2007 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is built on a stone crib with a pointed end to split ice floes. Lighthouse Digest has an article on the history of the lighthouse. Located south of the entrance to the Detroit River from Lake Erie. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-227; USCG 7-6885.

* Grosse Ile North Channel Range Front (2)

1906 (station established 1894). Inactive since 1963. 50 ft (15 m) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is green. The 2-1/2 story Victorian keeper's house, nearby on Parke Lane, survives as a private residence. James Phelps has a fine photo, Grosse Ile Online has a history of the light station, and Google has a satellite view. The township purchased the lighthouse from the federal government in 1965 for $350. Located at Lighthouse Point on the northeastern side of the island, on a concrete foundation connected to the island by a wood walkway. Site and tower open to guided tours. Owner: Grosse Ile Township. Site manager: Grosse Ile Historical Society. ARLHS USA-357.

* River Rouge Mariners Memorial

2004. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 43 ft (13 m); continuous white light. 41 ft (12.5 m) hexagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a stone base. Lighthouse painted white with red trim. Built as a civic project in 2003-2004, the lighthouse was dedicated in May 2004. Located in Belanger Park on the Detroit River in River Rouge, about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of downtown Detroit. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator/site manager: City of River Rouge. ARLHS USA-1223; USCG 7-8147.

* Tricentennial State Park 2003. Active (privately maintained); red flash every 4 s. 58 ft (18 m ) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is red. The navigation light is not in the lantern; it is mounted on the side of the tower. Larry Winn has a 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The park, part of a riverfront redevelopment project, was built to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Detroit in 2001; the lighthouse was built in 2003 when a marina was added to the park. The local building trades council has an article on the construction of the lighthouse. Located at the marina entrance in the park, at Atwater and St. Aubins Streets a short distance east of downtown Detroit. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator/site manager: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. USCG 7-8202. Detroit Waterworks Intake Crib Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 ft (12 m); white flash every 5 s. 13 m (43 ft) round tank-like structure with a lantern centered on the conical roof. Building painted beige, roof and lantern white. Google has a good satellite view. Located in the channel between Belle Isle and the city, opposite the Harbor Hill Marina on Freud Street. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. USCG 7-8350. * William Livingstone Memorial 1930 (Gaza Moroti). Active; focal plane 58 ft (17.5 m); white light occulting every 4 s, day and night. 50 ft (15 m) square fluted white marble tower, unpainted, with black lantern but no gallery. Jim Garrett has a good 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. The only marble lighthouse in the U.S., this tower was built with private funds as a memorial to William Livingstone, president of the Lakes Carriers Association from 1902 until his death in 1925. Located in Belle Isle Park at the eastern tip of Belle Isle in the Detroit River; the location is said to be poorly marked. Site open, tower closed. Owner: City of Detroit. Site manager: Detroit Recreation Department. ARLHS USA-978; USCG 7-8240. * Windmill Point (2) 1933 (station established 1838). Active; focal plane 42 ft (13 m ); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. Approx. 40 ft (12 m) round steel plate tower with a small lantern and gallery, mounted on a 1-story octagonal concrete base. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black. The lighthouse and a small equipment shelter are built on a short steel and concrete pier projecting into the river. A photo is at right, and a good 2007 closeup is available. Not much is known about this unusual Art Deco tower, one of the last traditional lighthouses built on the Great Lakes. A nearby range light, discontinued in 1931, was relocated to the Lower Nicolet West Range on the St. Mary's River (see below). Located in Mariner's Park, at the end of Alter Road in Grosse Pointe; this is at the Detroit River entrance from Lake St. Clair, a little over a mile (2 km) east of Belle Isle. The slender tower is barely noticeable in a Google satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-896; USCG 7-8260.

Windmill Point Light, October 2006 Creative Commons photo by Josh Bushinsky

Lake St. Clair Lighthouses

Peche Island Range Rear (2)

Date unknown (station established 1908). Active; focal plane 115 ft (35 m); continuous white light seen only on the range line. 115 ft (35 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a round 1-story concrete base. Lighthouse painted white. Located in Lake St. Clair about 0.7 mi (1.1 km) west of Windmill Point. Accessible only by boat, although there is a good view from the Windmill Point Light. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-8410.

Peche Island Range Front (2)

Date unknown (station established 1908). Active; focal plane 35 ft (11 m); continuous white light seen only on the range line; there is also a continuous white passing light. 35 ft (11 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a round 1-story concrete base. Lighthouse painted white. The tower also carries a rectangular daymark painted white with a red vertical stripe on the range line. Located in Lake St. Clair about 0.7 mi (1.1 km) northwest of the rear light. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-8400.

Lake St. Clair

1941. Active; focal plane 52 ft (16 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. Approx. 40 ft (12 m) round cylindrical tower centered on an octagonal 1-story work building, mounted on a steel and concrete caisson; solar-powered lens. Lighthouse is white with a single broad green band. No active fog signal. The tower also carries an array of weather instruments as NOAA C-MAN station LSCM4. Located in the middle of Lake St. Clair. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-426; USCG 7-8525.

Miller Memorial

Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 260 ft (79 m); flash every 5 s, alternating red and white. Visible from all over Lake St. Clair, this light is displayed from the top of a 20-story apartment building at the end of Shore Club Drive in St. Clair Shores; Google has a satellite view. Owner/site manager: Shore Club Marina and Apartments. USCG 7-8875.

St. Clair Flats Old Channel (St. Clair Flats South Channel Range Front)

1859 (dismantled and rebuilt in 1875). Active; focal plane 28 ft (8.5 m); white flash every 4 s. 23 ft (7 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery mounted on a timber crib; original 6° Fresnel lens. Anderson has a good photo. Endangered by its age, the tower lists noticeably. Preservationists took control of the light in 1996 and installed a temporary seawall to protect it from further damage. In 2000 an anonymous donation of $100,000 provided funds for restoration, and in 2003 the state granted $450,000. The two range lighthouses were transferred to the preservation group on November 15, 2004. In 2005, the front light will be straightened and restored. Cynthia Bieneck has posted a history of this light station and other light stations of the area. Located southwest of Harsen's Island marking a channel from Lake St. Clair into the St. Clair River (but not the channel now used). Accessible only by boat; visible from the end of South Channel Drive (extension of MI 154) south of Clay's Landing. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Save Our South Channel Lights. ARLHS USA-790; USCG 7-9550.

St. Clair Flats South Channel Range Rear

1859. Inactive since 1907. 40 ft (12 m) round brick tower on a wooden and stone crib. The keeper's house, formerly attached, was demolished in the 1930s. Anderson has a good photo. Endangered by age and years of neglect. A preservation group took control of the light in 1999. The 2003 state grant provided funds for a thorough restoration of the rear light, which was underway in late 2005. By the end of the year the lantern had been removed, restored and replaced; work to construct a seawall was in progress, and repairs to the masonry and interior were planned for early 2006. Ownership of the two range lighthouses was transferred to the preservation group on November 15, 2004. Jeremy D'Entremont has written an excellent report on the two range lights for the April 2006 Lighthouse Digest. Located southwest of Harsen's Island marking a channel from Lake St. Clair into the St. Clair River (but not the channel now used). Accessible only by boat; visible from the end of South Channel Drive (extension of MI 154) south of Clay's Landing. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Save Our South Channel Lights. ARLHS USA-791.

Harsens Island Range Rear

1934. Active; focal plane 31 ft (9.5 m); continuous green light. 30 ft (9 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower with flared top; upper 2/5 of tower enclosed by white steel panels. Original 1-1/2 story wood keepers quarters; also 1-1/2 story wood assistant keeper's house (1938) and a modern ranch-style house. An active Coast Guard station until 1985, this site was sold at auction in 2002. The new owner, Jeff Shook, is working to restore the buildings. Lighthouse Digest has a March 2003 article on the station, and Anderson has good photos. The front range light is on a 26 ft (8 m) cylindrical steel tower 525 ft (160 m) south. Located on the St. Clair River just upstream from Lake St. Clair. Accessible only by boat; visible from the end of South Channel Drive (extension of MI 154) south of Clay's Landing. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-1325; USCG 7-9660.

St. Clair River Lighthouses

* Peche (Peach) Island Range Rear 1908 (height increased in 1926). Inactive since 1982. 66 ft (20 m) round cast iron tower, painted white with black trim. Original 6° Fresnel lens in place. A photo is at right, Anderson has good photos, C.W. Bash has a good 2007 photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was originally located on a crib off Peche Island in the entrance to the Detroit River from Lake St. Clair; the Coast Guard has a historic photo. Prior to relocation, the crib had failed and the lighthouse was leaning at a dizzy angle; Shultheiss has posted a 1980 photo by R. Texter showing this problem. The lighthouse was relocated in 1983 to Lighthouse Park on the St. Clair River in Marine City; the park is on Water Street between Jefferson and Washington Streets. In late 2005, efforts were underway to organize the Friends of Peche Island Lighthouse to support preservation of the light. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Marine City. ARLHS USA-586. **** Lightship 103 Huron 1921. Decommissioned 1970 (a decorative light is displayed). 340 ton single-masted steel lightship, length 97 ft (30 m), beam 24 ft (7 m). The hull of the Huron is painted black and the superstructure white, instead of the usual lightship red. Terry Pepper has the ship's history and photos from his visit. After 14 years on Lake Michigan, this ship served off Port Huron for 35 years. One of the best preserved of all the lightships, fully equipped and with operational lamp and fog signal. Dry berthed at Pine Grove Park on Prospect Street in downtown Port Huron; Google has a satellite view. Site open, ship open (admission fee) daily in the summer, Thursday through Monday in spring and fall. Owner/site manager: Port Huron Museum. ARLHS USA-394. * Fort Gratiot Range Rear Date unknown. Active; focal plane 52 ft (16 m); continuous white light shown by a 12 ft (3.7 m) long vertical bar light. The tower also carries a rectangular daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. 58 ft (19 m) octagonal tower, described as brown (brick?). No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This range guides ships entering the St. Clair River under the Blue Water Bridge. The front light is 150 yards (138 m) northeast on a white "D9" tower with a similar daymark. Located on the west side of Thomas Edison Parkway at Edison Shores, less than1/4 mile (about 300 m) north of the lightship Huron. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-10000.

Peche Island Light, October 2006 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Southern Lake Huron (Thumb) and Saginaw Bay Lighthouses
*** Fort Gratiot (Port Huron) (2)

1829 (Lucius Lyon) (station established 1825). Active; focal plane 86 ft (26 m); green flash every 6 s, day and night. 82 ft (25 m) round old-style brick tower with lantern and gallery; DCB-24 aerobeacon (1933). Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. 2-story duplex brick keeper's house (1874) used as Coast Guard housing. Brick fog signal building (1901). A photo appears at the top of the page, Terry Pepper has the station's history on his excellent web page, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was so poorly constructed it collapsed in November 1828. The present lighthouse was extended from 65 ft (20 m) in 1861. Oldest light station in Michigan and the first on Lake Huron. Saved from deactivation by public protests in 1996. In 2004, Port Huron City Council sought ownership of the light under NHLPA, and in October 2005 this request was approved by the National Park Service; the transfer of ow*nership was expected during 2006 but had not occurred by the end of the year. In 2005, Congress appropriated $400,000, more than half the funds needed to restore the light station, and in summer 2006 the museum hired architects to plan the restoration. Located at the foot of Garfield Street in Port Huron, near the entrance to the St. Clair River. Site open, tower open for tours Friday through Monday in season. Tours arranged by the Port Huron Museum. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Port Huron Coast Guard Station. ARLHS USA-291; USCG 7-10015.

* Port Sanilac

1886. Active; focal plane 69 ft (21 m); 3 white flashes every 10 s. 59 ft (18 m) octagonal hourglass-style brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to 2-story brick keeper's house. Original 4° Fresnel lens still in use. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Brick oil house. A fine 2007 photo is available. A handsome lighthouse; there is only one other of this design (Ile au Galets, Lake Michigan). The keeper's house is a private residence, and in 2000 the Coast Guard also transferred ownership of the tower to the residents. The lighthouse can be seen easily from the breakwater at the end of Cherry Street, off MI 25 in Port Sanilac; public parking provided. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-651; USCG 7-10115.

Harbor Beach (Sand Beach) (2)

1885 (station established 1875). Normally active (out of service as of early 2004); focal plane 54 ft (16.5 m); flash every 10 s, alternating red and white. 45 ft (14 m) round cast iron sparkplug tower with lantern and gallery incorporating 2-story keeper's house; 300 mm lens. The original 4° Fresnel lens is on display at the Grice House Museum near the marina at the north end of town. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) when needed. Anderson has photos, and Google has a satellite view. The Harbor Beach Lighthouse and Breakwall Preservation Society has worked since 1984 for the preservation and restoration of the light. The Society replaced the windows with copies of the originals, painted, and built a dock and steps for access. The Coast Guard restored the crib foundation in 1999. In 2004 the lighthouse became available for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The city and the preservation society submitted an application for ownership, but controversy arose over Coast Guard plans to solarize the light; the preservation society wants the cable connection to the mainland repaired instead. This and other difficulties have delayed the transfer of the lighthouse to city ownership. Located on a crib off the end of a detached breakwater protecting the artificial harbor at Harbor Beach. Accessible only by boat; there are good view from public beach parking areas at the foot of Trescott Street, off MI 25. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-365; USCG 7-10130.

*** Pointe aux Barques (2) 1858 (station established 1848). Active; focal plane 93 ft (28 m); 2 white flashes every 20 s, the flashes separated by 5 s. 89 ft (27 m) round brick tower attached to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house (1908). Twin DCB-224 aerobeacons. The original 3° Fresnel lens and fog bell are on display at the Huron City Museum in Huron City. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. Brick assistant keeper's house (1933) and iron oil house. A photo is at right. The keeper's house is a museum, or actually two museums, one covering the light station and former lifesaving station and the other for the neighboring Thumb Underwater Preserve. Most of the light station was conveyed to Huron County in 1935 and 1958; the lighthouse itself was transferred to county ownership in June 2003. The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Society was formed in 2001 to support restoration of the light station. In late 2003 a state grant of $70,000 provided funds for exterior repairs and restoration. Also in 2003, archaeologists located the foundations of the 1848 lighthouse. In October 2005, the Comcast company organized a volunteer day during which the keeper's house was painted inside and out. Terry Pepper has an excellent page on the station. Located in Lighthouse County Park, off MI 25 about 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Port Hope (and 7 miles (11 km) southeast of the actual point); the park includes a large campground and 6 vacation cabins. Site open, museum open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, tower closed. Owner: Huron County. Site manager: Lighthouse County Park. ARLHS USA-615; USCG 7-10210. Port Austin Reef (2) 1899 (station established 1878). Active; focal plane 76 ft (23 m); white flash every 6 s. 60 ft (18 m) square cylindrical brick tower attached to 1-story brick keeper's house, mounted on octagonal pier; solar-powered 300 mm lens (1985). Buildings are unpainted brick; lantern and gallery are black, roofs red. An additional 2-story brick keeper's house (1878) onshore is now a private residence. C.W. Bash has a distant view. The lighthouse has been restored through intensive local efforts beginning in 1988. In 1990, the preservation group obtained a 30-year lease from the Coast Guard. A $14,000 state grant was used in 2001 to rebuild the station's dock for future public access. Exterior restoration is mostly complete, and there are plans to restore the interior. Located about 2 miles (3 km) offshore at the tip of Michigan's "thumb," near Port Austin. Accessible only by boat (navigation is dangerous near the reef). Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Port Austin Reef Light Association. ARLHS USA-648; USCG 7-10275. ** Caseville Harbor 2001. Active (privately maintained); focal plane about 65 ft (20 m); white flash every 10 s. 38 ft (11.5 m) square cylindrical wood tower mounted at one end of a 3-story wood condo building. Buildings painted white with red roofs. Located on the south side of the Pigeon River and on the east side of MI 25 in Caseville. Site open, tower open to tours by appointment. Owner/site manager: Caseville Harbor Light. ARLHS USA-1258; USCG 7-10373.

Pointe aux Barques Light, September 2007 anonymous Creative Commons photo

[Saginaw River Range Front]

1876 (station established 1841). Inactive since ca. 1960. The original lighthouse on this station (1841) was the Saginaw Bay Light, a 65 ft (20 m) oldstyle rubblestone tower. The first range light (1876), a 37 ft (11 m) square pyramidal wood tower with enclosed upper portion, was replaced in 1915 by a steel skeletal tower, now also demolished. The concrete crib on which these range towers were built survives near the Bay City Yacht Club, just inside the mouth of the river, and a 1-1/2 story wood assistant keeper's house (1905) survives as a private residence. Site closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-940.

Saginaw River Range Rear

1876 (Godfrey Weitzel). Inactive since 1960 (continued to serve as a Coast Guard station until 1980). 55 ft (17 m) square brick tower attached to 2-story brick keeper's house. Buildings painted white; roofs are red. Terry Pepper has excellent historical information on his page for the lighthouse, Schultheiss has a page with additional photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on property owned by Dow Chemical Company, the light station was in poor condition by the 1990s. In 2000, the company and the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society announced plans to restore the lighthouse, with Dow Chemical providing most of the funds. In 2000, the roof and windows were replaced. In 2002, the society acquired a historic locomotive-style range lens of the type used in the lighthouse between 1930 and 1960. Located on the west side of the Saginaw River about 2/3 mile (1.1 km) south of Saginaw Bay, north of Bay City. Site and tower closed. Owner: Dow Chemical. Site manager: Saginaw River Marine Historical Society. ARLHS USA-917.

** Tawas (Tawas Point, Ottawa Point) (2) 1876 (station established 1853). Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); white light occulting every 4 s. 67 ft (20 m) round brick tower attached to 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house; original 4° Fresnel lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery gray, lantern roof red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 60 s) when needed. The lighthouse is floodlit at night. A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. Formerly used as Coast Guard housing, the light station was transferred to the state in 1999. In 2000, the state renovated the grounds, clearing trees and providing handicap access to the area. A $20,000 state grant in 2001 supported a study of restoration needed to return the station to its appearance between 1890 and 1920. Restoration work began in 2002 with demolition of a more recent (1922) assistant keeper's house, replacement of the principal keeper's house roof, and various site improvements. A garage was renovated to serve as a temporary visitor center. The tower was repainted and repaired in 2003. Restoration of the principal keeper's house began in 2006. Beginning in 2008, volunteer keepers will pay to stay up to two weeks in the house. Located on a sandy spit enclosing Tawas Bay, off US 23 at the end of Tawas Beach Road, in East Tawas. Site open, keepers quarters open weekends and holidays mid May to mid October, tower open in the afternoon on weekends and major holidays from late May through early September. Owner: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Site manager: Tawas Point State Park. ARLHS USA-837; USCG 7-11240. Gravelly Shoal 1939 (F.P. Dillon and W. G. Will). Active; focal plane 75 ft (23 m); red flash every 6 s. 65 ft (20 m) square cylindrical white concrete Art Deco tower surmounted by a black steel skeletal radiobeacon tower, mounted on a circular concrete crib; 375 mm lens. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) operates continuously. Anderson has good photos. Sibling of the Conneault Harbor and Huron Harbor Lights in Ohio. No keeper's house; the light was designed to be controlled remotely from Tawas Point. This lighthouse replaced the Charity Island Light. To resist ice pressure, the crib was strengthened with additional concrete in 1954. Located west of Charity Island, roughly halfway between the island and Point Lookout on the mainland. Accessible only by boat; there should be good views from the passenger ferry from Au Gres to Charity Island. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-340; USCG 7-10540.

Tawas Point Light, September 2006 anonymous Creative Commons photo

* Charity Island

1858. Inactive since 1939. 39 ft (12 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, originally painted white, lantern black. Gravely endangered by decay and neglect; Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The ruined keeper's house was demolished in the spring of 2003. Sold into private hands in 1963, the island had been owned by a series of developers, but all development plans fizzled. Most of the island is now included in the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, except for the lighthouse and 5.5 acres (2.4 ha) including the site of the former keeper's house. In 2003, the owner of the latter property built a modern house on the foundations of the keeper's house. Meanwhile, in September 2002, the Arenac County Historical Society formed the Charity Island Preservation Committee to work for restoration of the light tower, and in July 2003 the Society reached an agreement with the Nature Conservancy and the Fish and Wildlife Service on carrying out the restoration. Funding has been difficult to obtain, but in January 2005 the Committee announced funds were in hand to proceed with the historical study needed before actual restoration can begin. Terry Pepper also has a good web page on this lighthouse. Located at the northwest point of the island, in the middle of the entrance to Saginaw Bay. Accessible by passenger ferry mid June through mid September from Northport Marina in Au Gres; in addition the owner of the replica keeper's house offers dinner cruises to the light station from Au Gres. Site open, tower closed. Tower owner: Nature Conservancy; site manager: Arenac County Historical Society. Keeper's house owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-943.

Northern Lake Huron Lighthouses

*** Sturgeon Point 1869. Active; focal plane 69 ft (21 m); white flash every 6 s. 71 ft (21.5 m) round brick tower attached to a 1-1/2 story limestone and brick keeper's house. Rare 3-1/2° Fresnel lens (1887) still in use. Lighthouse and lantern painted white, gallery and lantern roof red; keeper's house also painted white with red trim. Britten also has a great photo, and Google has a satellite view. The light station was leased to Alcona County in 1982; volunteers of the Alcona County Historical Society have restored the keeper's house as a maritime museum. In 2006, the Coast Guard proposed to deactivate the lighthouse and apparently did so for a short time, but after some negotiation it agreed to maintain the light until the lighthouse can be transferred to Alcona County; the historical society will then operate the light as a private aid. Located at the end of Point Road about 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Harrisville. Site open, museum open daily Memorial Day (late May) through mid September, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Alcona County Historical Society. ARLHS USA-823; USCG 7-11345. Alpena Harbor (3) 1914 (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 44 ft; red flash every 5 s. 40 ft (?) square pyramidal skeletal tower, partially enclosed below the lantern; 250 mm lens. Entire lighthouse painted red. Fog horn (blast every 15 s) when needed. C.W. Bash has a good photo,and Google has a satellite view. Known locally as "Sputnik" and as "L'il Red," this tower is the only surviving example of its design. It replaced a wooden lighthouse built in 1888 after an earlier lighthouse was destroyed by fire. Mounted at the end of the north breakwater at the mouth of the Thunder Bay River in Alpena. There's a good view from the end of First Avenue, two blocks east of US 23. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-007; USCG 7-11370.

Sturgeon Point Light, July 2004 Creative Commons photo copyright C.W. Bash

Thunder Bay Island

1832 (heightened by 10 ft (3 m) in 1857; station established 1832). Active; focal plane 63 ft (21 m); flash every 20 s, alternating green and white. 50 ft (15 m) round brick tower attached to a 2-story brick keeper's house; solar-powered 190 mm lens. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery red. Brick fog signal building (1892), oil house, and other light station buildings. Anderson has good photos, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was rebuilt after collapsing within within weeks of its construction in 1831. The NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory has a station on the island. In 1997, a preservation society was formed to lease the light station from the Coast Guard, and restoration efforts began. In 2003 preservationists scrambled to raise matching funds needed to secure a grant for critically needed exterior repairs. Lighthouse Digest has a July 2004 feature article on these restoration efforts.The repairs were completed by Cusack Masonry Restoration in August 2004. The preservation society and Alpena Township are working to secure ownership of the land surrounding the light station. Terry Pepper also has a fine web page for this lighthouse. Located at the southeast end of the island, off the entrance to Thunder Bay. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. ARLHS USA-847; USCG 7-11495.

Middle Island

1905. Active; focal plane 78 ft (24 m); white flash every 10 s. 71 ft (21.5 m) round brick tower attached to a service room. The original 4° Fresnel lens was dismantled and stolen in the 1970s; one large panel has been recovered. Tower painted white with a single broad orange-red horizontal band. The 2-1/2 story duplex brick keeper's house is under restoration. Brick fog signal building, oil house, and other light station buildings. Anderson has fine photos, and Google has a satellite view. A preservation group based in Alpena has restored the light station as a bed and breakfast inn, which opened in June 2001. The association also has a small visitor center and gift shop on US 23 north of Alpena. Located on an island about 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore and 9 miles (15 km) north of Thunder Bay Island. Accessible only by boat; tours available on weekends June through mid-October. Site open, tower closed. Tower owner: U.S. Coast Guard; site manager: Friends of Middle Island Lighthouse. Remainder of station owner/site manager: Middle Island Lightkeepers Association. ARLHS USA-495; USCG 7-11515.

* Presque Isle Range Front

1870. Inactive. Approx. 17 ft (5 m) octagonal cylindrical wood tower on a square base, painted white with a red roof. Ron Texter has a closeup photo. Sibling of the Copper Harbor Range Front Light (see below). After deactivation this little lighthouse was relocated to the Old Presque Isle Light (next entry). In 2004, the light was relocated a second time to the new Range Light Park, near its original location in Presque Isle, where it was restored by the township. C.W. Bash has a photo of the light in its new home. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Presque Isle Township. ARLHS USA-669.

* Presque Isle Range Rear

1870. Inactive. Approx. 33 ft (10 m) square cupola-style lantern mounted on the roof of 1-1/2 story wood keepers quarters. Building painted white with red roofs. Sibling of Copper Harbor Range Rear Light (see below). Private residence. The range lights have been replaced by square cylindrical skeletal towers with large red and white daymarks (focal plane 36 ft (11 m) for the rear range and and 23 ft (7 m) for the front range; continuous green lights). Located on Grand Lake Road in Presque Isle. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-670; modern lights are USCG 7-11565 (front) and 11570 (rear).

*** Presque Isle (1)

1840 (extensively rebuilt). Inactive since 1871. 38 ft (11.5 m) round tower with lantern and gallery, lower 2/3 stone and upper portion brick. Tower painted white, lantern black. The 2-story brick keeper's house was demolished and reconstructed in 1939 as a private residence and is now operated as a museum. The replica lantern (1957) contains a 4° Fresnel lens relocated from South Fox Island Light (1) (see below) on Lake Michigan. The Presque Isle Range Front light (1870) is on display at the entrance to the grounds. The ruined light tower was privately reconstructed in the 1920s. The property was sold to the state in 1995, but the buildings were donated to the township. Recently restored through volunteer efforts and now operated by the Presque Isle Historical Society. A 2006 photo shows the lighthouse freshly repainted. Located on the southeastern point of the Presque Isle peninsula at the entrance to Presque Isle Harbor; Google has a satellite view. Site open, museum and tower open daily mid-May to mid-October. Owner: Presque Isle Township. Site manager: Presque Isle Historical Society. ARLHS USA-668.

**** Presque Isle (2)

1871 (O.M. Poe). Active; focal plane 113 ft (34.5 m); white flash every 15 s. 109 ft (33 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Tower painted white, gallery black, lantern roof red. 2-story wood assistant keeper's house (1905). The original 3° Fresnel lens was removed in 2003 for restoration; a temporary light is in use. Brandon Cirillo has a great photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Tallest Lake Huron lighthouse. The keeper's house is a lighthouse museum and gift shop. This elegant lighthouse was the first of a series of six Great Lakes lighthouses now known as the Poe Towers (the others are Au Sable, Big Sable, and Little Sable MI, plus Outer Island WI and Grosse Point IL). The New Presque Isle Lighthouse Historical Society works for maintenance and restoration of the light station. As part of a thorough restoration during the 1990s the tower was enclosed with a new course of brick; this makes the lighthouse noticeably "fatter" than it appears in older photos. Restoration of the assistant keeper's house was completed in 2002, and the house now serves as the Presque Isle Keeper's House Museum. In late 2003 a $91,500 state grant provided funds to complete restoration of the lens and lantern room. Located at the end of Grand Lake Road at the north point of the peninsula, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) northwest of the older lighthouse. Site open, museum and tower open daily execpt Mondays June 15 through Labor Day and on the weekends in September and October (museum free, small fee to climb the tower). Owner/site manager: Presque Isle County. ARLHS USA-667; USCG 7-11550.

* Forty Mile Point 1897 (Milton B. Adams). Active; focal plane 66 ft (20 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 52 ft (16 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to 2-1/2 story brick duplex keeper's house. Tower painted white, lantern roof black. A 4° Henri LePaute Fresnel lens (1872) has been in use here since 1935. Original brick fog signal building, oil house, and other light station buildings. A photo is at right, and Terry Pepper has an excellent web page. Sibling of Big Bay Point Light on Lake Superior (see below). The surrounding property was conveyed to Presque Isle County as a park in 1971, and the county assumed responsibility for maintaining the buildings. In 1998, ownership of the buildings was also transferred to the county, which then organized a preservation society to work for restoration of the lighthouse. The society has a resident caretaker who lives in an apartment in the keeper's house; the rest of the house is a museum. Located in a county park off US 23 about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Rogers City. Site open, tower closed except for occasional open houses. Owner: Presque Isle County (Lighthouse Park). Site manager: 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society. ARLHS USA-303; USCG 7-11715.

Forty Mile Point Light, October 2003 Creative Commons photo by April Janowski

South Channel (Straits of Mackinac) and Cheboygan Harbor Lighthouses

Spectacle Reef

1874 (O.M. Poe). Active; focal plane 86 ft (26 m); red flash every 5 s. 93 ft (28.5 m) round limestone tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating keeper's house, mounted on a square limestone crib and attached to 1-story limestone fog signal building; solar-powered lens. Tower unpainted; lantern roof painted red. The original 2° Fresnel lens, removed in 1982, is on display at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum in Vermillion, Ohio. Construction of this lighthouse took 4 years and was regarded as a major engineering achievement. Anderson has a good page with current photos. Located in the South Channel some 15 miles (25 km) east of Bois Blanc Island, northeast of Cheboygan. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-782; USCG 7-11730.

Poe Reef

1929. Active; focal plane 71 ft (21.5 m); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off. 60 ft (18 m) square cylindrical reinforced concrete tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating 3-story keeper's house and a fourth-floor watch room; solar-powered 375 mm lens. The tower is painted black with a broad white band encompassing two floors. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) when needed. Anderson has good aerial photos. Sibling of Martin Reef Light (see Upper Michigan). Located in the middle of the eastern entrance to South Channel about 6 miles (10 km) northeast of Cheboygan. Accessible only by boat. Visible from Cheboygan State Park and from lighthouse cruises. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-610; USCG 7-11750.

[Cheboygan Main]

1859. Inactive since about 1930. Demolished by the Coast Guard during the 1940s, this was a "schoolhouse" lighthouse, similar to the Pottawatomie and Port Washington Lights in Wisconsin. The Coast Guard has a historic photo. Only the foundation of the building remains. Located at Lighthouse Point on the east side of Cheboygan harbor. Accessible by a hiking trail about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long starting at the state park campground. Site open. Owner: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Site manager: Cheboygan State Park. ARLHS USA-161.

Fourteen Foot Shoal

1930. Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); white light occulting every 4 s. 55 ft (17 m) round steel tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story workhouse and fog signal building; solar-powered 250 mm lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof red. Fog horn (blast every 15 s) when needed. Anderson has good aerial photos. The lighthouse was never manned; it was operated by remote control from Poe Reef. In 2002 it was painted and refurbished by the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw. Located near the entrance to Cheboygan Harbor. Visible from Cheboygan Crib Light and from Lighthouse Point in Cheboygan State Park. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-306; USCG 7-11765.

* Cheboygan Crib

1884. Inactive since 1984. 25 ft (7.5 m) octagonal cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, gallery gray, lantern roof red. This light was maintained from the Cheboygan Range station. Skip Barnes has a fine 2007 photo. Originally located on a crib off the entrance to the Cheboygan River, the lighthouse was was leaning dangerously before its relocation onshore in 1987. In fall 2001, GLLKA volunteers Dick Moehl and Sandy Planisek painted and refurbished the tower. In 2003, the city discovered it did not actually own the lighthouse when the General Services Administration declared it to be excess federal property. Steps were quickly taken to get clear title. Located on the pierhead at the west side of the river mouth at the end of Huron Street in downtown Cheboygan. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed except for an occasional open house. Owner/site manager: City of Cheboygan (Gordon Turner Park). ARLHS USA-160.

** Cheboygan River Range Front

1880. Active; focal plane 45 ft (13.5 m); continuous red light. Approx. 40 ft (12 m) square cylindrical wood tower attached church-style to 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house; a red locomotive-style lamp and a large red-striped daymark are mounted on the front of the tower. Building painted white. The circular cast iron oil house is also preserved. John Kulpa has contributed an excellent photo. The building, which formerly housed local offices of the Coast Guard and the Fish and Wildlife Service, was declared surplus by the federal government. In December 2003 the Great Lakes Lightkeepers Association received access to the building to begin restoration, and ownership was transferred formally to GLLKA on June 4, 2004. In 2005 the state granted $14,000 for a pre-restoration engineering study of the building, and in May the lighthouse opened for guided tours. Located on the Cheboygan River at First and Water Streets in downtown Cheboygan. Site open, building and tower open to guided tours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Memorial Day (late May) through September 30. Owner/site manager: Great Lakes Lightkeepers Association. ARLHS USA-162; USCG 7-11790.

* Cheboygan River Range Rear (2)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 75 ft (23 m); continuous red light. 80 ft (24.5 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower with gallery; the front of the tower carries a large rectangular daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. Terry Pepper has a photo. Located 1115 ft (340 m) west southwest of the front light. Site open, tower closed. USCG 11795.

Bois Blanc Island (3) 1867 (station established 1829). Inactive since 1924. 38 ft (11.5 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached church-style to a 2-story brick keeper's house. Lighthouse is unpainted brick with yellow trim, lantern painted white. The active light (focal plane 32 ft (10 m); white flash every 2.5 s) is on a 17 ft (5 m) white cylindrical "D9" tower nearby. Second oldest light station in Michigan. The lighthouse is a private summer residence, well cared for by its owners. Anderson has good photos, and a nice 2004 photo is available. Located at the end of a long peninsula on the north side of Bois Blanc (pronounced "bob-lo") Island. The island is accessible May through November by ferry from Cheboygan, but the best way to see the lighthouse is on lighthouse cruises from Mackinaw City. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-068; USCG 7-12535. **** Mackinac Point 1892 (John Peter Schmitt). Inactive since 1957. 40 ft (12 m) round cylindrical brick tower attached to 2-story brick Tudor Revival keeper's house. Building unpainted with red roofs; lantern white with red roof. The original 4° Fresnel lens, rediscovered in storage after being lost for many years, was returned for display in May 2003. Brick fog signal building (1907). A photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. After being closed since 1990, the light station was in need of extensive restoration by 2000. Efforts began in 2001 to raise $2.5 million needed to restore the site. In the summer of 2002, state grants repaired the roof and replaced the windows. The lighthouse reopened to visitors on June 12, 2004. In early 2005, the station's barn, which had been relocated, was returned. In late 2006, restoration work began on the barn. The state park has a web site for the lighthouse with visitor information. Located at the end of Huron Street in Mackinaw City, practically under the "Mighty Mac" (I-75) bridge over the Straits of Mackinac. Site open, fog signal building open daily during the summer, lighthouse and tower open daily from mid May to early October. Owner: Mackinac Island State Park Commission. Site manager: Mackinac State Historic Parks. ARLHS USA-463.

Mackinac Point Light, January 2007 Creative Commons photo by Eric Rae

Inland Lighthouse
* Houghton Lake

2003. Active (privately maintained). 35 ft (11 m) hexagonal wood tower with lantern, topped by a weathervane. Lighthouse painted white with narrow red horizontal bands. A view from the lake is available. Located on Shoreline Drive in Houghton Lake Heights, off MI 55. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Heights Marina.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

• Au Sable North Pierhead (1873-?), Lake Huron
• Clinton River (1847-1908), Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1259.
• Ecorse (1895-1940s), Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1260.
• Ecorse Range Rear (1894-?), Detroit River
• Gibraltar (1873-??), mouth of Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1076.
• Grassy Island North Channel Range (1897-?), Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1261 (front) and 1262 (rear).
• Grassy Island South Channel Range (1896-?), Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1263 (front) and 1264 (rear).
• Grosse Isle South Channel Range, Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1279 (front) and 358 (rear).
• Mamajuda (1849-1921), Detroit River. ARLHS USA-1267.
• Mamajuda Range Front (1894-?), Detroit River
• Monroe Pier (1885-1922), Lake Erie at the mouth of Raisin River. ARLHS USA-511.
• Saginaw Bay (1841-1876), mouth of Saginaw River. ARLHS USA-1271.
• Sand Beach North Entrance East (1875-?), Harbor Beach, Lake Huron
• Windmill Point Range Front and Rear (1907-1931), Detroit River

Notable faux lighthouses:

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index

Checked and revised January 15, 2008. Lighthouses: 44. Lightships: 1. Site copyright 2008 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.