Continuing with our summer Road Trip series visiting Michigan Lighthouses, this month we explore the unique lighthouse structures that are located on the shores of Northern Lake Michigan. Michigan has an abundant inventory of lighthouses with rich histories that reinforce MAF’s mission of “advancing awareness of how architecture enriches life.” If you are planning a trip to Northern Michigan this summer, please consider some of the following options to learn more about Michigan Lighthouses located on the shores of Northern Lake Michigan:
Photo Credit: Alexander Hamilton
Menominee North Lighthouse: Harbor Drive, Menominee
The original light at this location was built in 1877 to guide ships to the Menominee River and the current tower was built in 1927. The 34-foot tower was painted white and integrated with an attached fog signal building. The light was automated in 1972 and the iron catwalk was removed from the pier. The tower was then painted red and relocated to a concrete platform in the center of the crib.
Sand Point Lighthouse (Escanaba): 16 Water Plant Road, Escanaba
Established in 1867 by the National Lighthouse Service, Sand Point’s light has guided ships through squalls and shoals throughout its long history. A fire in 1886 destroyed the structure, but the lighthouse was rebuilt and served the sailing public until it was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1939. Today, an electronic club light guides boats into the harbor and the lighthouse has been restored as a maritime museum.
Peninsula Point Light Station: 3722 County 513 T Rd, Rapid River
The Peninsula Point Light Station was built in 1864 to help aid sailing ships avoid the dangerous shoals hidden off the channels. The one and a half story brick home was destroyed in 1959 by fire, but the 40-foot fawn colored brick tower remained and is now open to the public where visitors can climb the circular staircase for panoramic views of Lake Michigan. An interpretive hiking trail through the wooded shoreline highlights the history of the lighthouse and explains the geology of this Lake Michigan peninsula.
Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse: 905 S Seul Choix, Pointe Road, Gulliver
First lit in 1895, the light at Seul Choix Point (French for the Only Choice) stands 77 feet tall. The white tower is topped by an intricate black wrought iron rail and capped with a red roof. It is the only working light on the northern shores of Lake Michigan. A fully restored red brick keeper’s quarters remain, and both are open to the public (including the tower stairs).
Jim Young – stock.adobe.com
White Shoal Light Station: Lake Michigan, 20 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge
First lit in 1910, this 121 foot terracotta and steel lighthouse sits off the shore of Wilderness State Park near Mackinaw City. The light’s isolated location made its construction an engineering feat in its day and remains to be accessible only by boat. Originally the tower was painted solid white, but to improve visibility, a red-and-white spiral stripe pattern was added in later years, making the tower resemble a candy cane or a barber’s pole. White Shoal Lighthouse is the only American lighthouse painted with this pattern.
Grey’s Reef Lighthouse: Lake Michigan, 5 miles south of White Shoal Light Station and 3.8 miles west of Waugoshance Island
Gray’s Reef Lighthouse was first lit in 1936 and joins the ranks of many other lights built to secure the Straits. The lighthouse stands in the Straits of Mackinac and resembles a white rocket ship ready for launch. The striking structure is still operational and features an 82 foot focal height. The lighthouse is accessible only by boat and is a frequent landmark on Shepler’s Ferry’s lighthouse tours.
Waugoshance Lighthouse: Lake Michigan, 15 miles west of Mackinaw City
Located on a treacherous stretch of water leading into the Straits of Mackinac, the yellow brick Waugoshance Lighthouse was constructed in 1851 and was decommissioned in 1912. In August 1943, during the midst of World War II, the navy took control of the Waugoshance Lighthouse, and it became part of a bombing and gunnery range for the Naval Air Station in Traverse City. During the following years, the structure was bombed and strafed by pilots. The large split in the tower offers evidence that Waugoshance is considered one of the world’s most threatened lighthouses. The lighthouse is visible only from boat.
St. Helena Island Lighthouse: 4901 St Helena Island, St Ignace
The tiny island of St. Helena just west of St. Ignace is home to the St. Helena Island lighthouse, which is recognizable for its white 71 foot tower topped by a similarly eye-catching red lantern. The light was constructed in 1873 and automated in 1923. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but it is possible to visit as a volunteer through The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers program. The lighthouse is only accessible by boat and is a frequent landmark on Shepler’s Ferry’s lighthouse tours.
johnsroad7 – stock.adobe.com
McGulpin Point Lighthouse: 500 Headlands Rd, Mackinaw City
Two miles west of Mackinaw City, the McGulpin Lighthouse was part of at least a dozen of lighthouses established to keep the Straits of Mackinac safe for shipping traffic. Constructed in 1869 by the United States Lighthouse Board, the yellow brick lighthouse has been fully restored and is open for tours. The design was so successful that the Lighthouse Board chose to use this 1868 design in the construction of Eagle Harbor Light in 1871, White River Light in 1875, and Sand Island Light (Wisconsin) in 1881.
Beaver Head Lighthouse: Southern tip of Beaver Island
Set on the southern end of Beaver Island (a quiet stretch of land overlooking Lake Michigan), the honey-colored brick of Beaver Head Lighthouse, which dates from 1858, glows with the last rays of the sun. You must travel by car to reach this 46-foot-tall lighthouse but, once you reach the light visitors are permitted to climb the tower and admire the view.
Photo Credit: Thomas K
Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse: 90 Grant St, Charlevoix
The Charlevoix Lighthouse overlooks Lake Michigan and is nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan and the Pine River Channel. This historic lighthouse has been guiding travelers home for over a hundred years. The Charlevoix South Pier was built in 1911 of wood and then was replaced with a steel structure in 1948. In 2009, the lighthouse was the recipient of an MAF Evans Graham Preservation Award to help with restoration costs. The Charlevoix Historical Society still maintains the active light.
Mission Point Lighthouse: 20500 Center Rd, Traverse City
Mission Point Lighthouse is located near the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, halfway between the North Pole and the Equator, exactly on the 45th parallel and at the end of vineyard-strewn M-37. The white clapboard structure was built in 1870 and stands at only 45 feet tall. Since it is perched atop a sand dune, the light sends a beacon farther than one might think. Visitors can climb the tower or visit the small museum that recounts the history, including that of its rare female keeper, Sarah Lane. Mission Point also offers a two-week in-residence keeper program.
csterken – stock.adobe.com
Grand Traverse Lighthouse: 15500 Lighthouse Point Rd, Northport
Located at the northern tip of the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse stands vividly white and red against the deep green pine forests and turquoise waters of Lake Michigan. Built in 1858, the lighthouse has guided ships in the Manitou Passage of Lake Michigan for nearly 150 years, making it one of the oldest on the Great Lakes. Visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse tower and explore the keeper’s quarters, which have been restored to their 1920s and 1930s appearance. Don’t miss the Must-See Michigan Architecture article about the Grand Traverse Lighthouse in this month’s newsletter.
South Manitou Lighthouse: South Manitou Island
For nearly a century, lighthouse keepers kept a light burning at the top of this 104-foot tower to guide mariners through the dangerous Manitou Passage. It is possible to travel by ferry from Leland for a visit to the Sleeping Bear Dunes’ Manitou Islands to view the lighthouse. Once the ferry reaches South Manitou, the island’s tall white lighthouse stands out as its most distinctive feature. The tower is open to visitors who wish to climb the circular staircase to the light’s black wrought-iron observation deck for a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.