Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Northern Upper Peninsula

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. The 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 170 Michigan lights. 

The first European outposts on the Upper Peninsula were established by France beginning at Sault Sainte Marie in 1668. Control passed to Britain after the Seven Year's War in 1763. Britain retained control of Michigan following the American Revolution, finally withdrawing in 1796-97. The U.S. Congress established Michigan Territory in 1805; for many years it included a large area of the northern Great Plains. Michigan with its present borders was admitted to the Union as the 26th state in 1837.

This page includes lighthouses of Michigan's Lake Superior coastline from the Wisconsin border eastward through Luce County, including Isle Royale. There are separate pages for lighthouses of the Eastern Upper Peninsula and the Southern Upper Peninsula.

The state's 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.

Aids to navigation on Michigan's Lake Superior coast are maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie but ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in many cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. USCG numbers are from Volume VII of the United States Coast Guard Light List.


Eagle Harbor Light, Eagle Harbor, September 2004
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Larry Myhre

General Sources
Michigan Lighthouses
Excellent photos and information posted by Kraig Anderson.
Michigan, United States Lighthouses
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Lake Superior Lighthouses
Photos by C.W. Bash.
Lighthouses in Michigan
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association
GLLKA encourages lighthouse preservation throughout the Great Lakes states, but it is best known for its work preserving the St. Helena Island and Cheboygan Range Front 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.
Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program
This state program provides grants annually for lighthouse preservation.
Upper Peninsula Lighthouses Open to the Public
Complete and well-illustrated accounts for 6 Upper Peninsula lights.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: Light Lists
The USCG Light List can be downloaded in pdf format.
NOAA Nautical Charts
Official nautical charts for the coast can be viewed online.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Lake Superior.
 

Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light, Jacobsville, August 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey

Ontonagon County Lighthouses

Ontonagon Harbor West Breakwater (2)
1900 (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 31 ft (9.5 m); red flash every 4 s. 31 ft (9.5 m) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with with lantern and gallery and an enclosed workroom below the lantern; 300 mm lens. Tower painted white, lantern black. Fog horn (2 blasts every 60 s) as needed. A 2007 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is very similar to the better-known pierhead lights at Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Grand Marais, Michigan. The light was maintained by keepers from the Ontonagon Light. The first light was relocated three times as the pier was extended and then was swept away by a storm in 1899. Located on the western side of the mouth of the Ontonagon River, off MI 64. In 2012 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. The Ontonagon County Historical Society was approved as the recipient but had second thoughts and did not accept the transfer. In September 2019 the lighthouse was sold at auction for $7500. The new owner was not identified. They had work to do, because a 2022 drone view shows the lighthouse in poor condition. Apparently the owner returned the property to the government and in June 2024 the General Services Administration was reoffering it under NHLPA. Accessible only by boat (the breakwater is impassable on foot). Site and tower closed; distant views are available from shore. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-1084; USCG 7-15225.
**** Ontonagon (2)
1866 (station established 1853). Inactive since 1964 (a decorative light is displayed); charted as a landmark. 34 ft (10 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to a 2-story brick keeper's house. Lighthouse unpainted; lantern and gallery painted black. A 2023 photo is at right, Jim Vining has a fine 2023 photo, C.M. Hanchey has a 2011 photo, Holger Durer has a great closeup photo, Shari Dvorak has a nice photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The Ontonagon County Historical Society conducts tours of the site and is working actively for restoration of the light station. The society's Ontonagon Historical Museum displays the original 5th order Fresnel lens (1857, transferred from the original tower). Lighthouse Digest has Mary Shegan's account of the restoration effort and the history of the light station. In 2003 an act of Congress transferred ownership of the light station from the Army Corps of Engineers to the Historical Society. The 150th anniversary of the lighthouse was celebrated in September 2016. Located just off MI 64 on the west side of the Ontonagon River entrance. Site closed (industrial area), lighthouse and tower open during the summer to guided tours from the museum (422 River Street) several times daily May through October; off-season group tours can be arranged. Owner/site manager: Ontonagon County Historical Society. . ARLHS USA-569.

Ontonagon Light, Ontonagon, July 2023
Instagram photo by mack_taya
Fourteen Mile Point
1894. Inactive since 1934; charted as a landmark. Square cylindrical brick tower attached to a 2-story brick keeper's house. Gravely endangered. Gutted by fire in 1984, the main building was left in ruins. A wood assistant keeper's house survived the fire. The brick oil house and brick fog signal building also survive. David Alderman has a 2018 photo, Nolan Kelley has a 2019 photo, Andrew Nold has a closeup 2021 street view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. In the early 1990s the property was purchased by Dan Hermanson of Keweenaw Video Media in Houghton and two friends, and around 1997 they began some work at the site. However, when Terry Pepper visited the station in summer 2004 he found the lighthouse still a rickety shell. Not surprisingly this lighthouse is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. According to recent reports, the "owners made some structural stabilization improvements to the fog signal building, including erosion prevention, some foundation repair, and installing doors and window shutters." In 2017 the light station and 49 acres of surrounding wilderness were for sale, listed for $890,000. In 2024 the property was purchased by Sam Woodworth, who was interested in starting a restoration effort. Located in a very remote area 14 miles (22 km) northeast of Ontonagon. Practically inaccessible except by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-944.

Keweenaw County: Isle Royale Lighthouses


Isle Royale is a large island, 45 miles (72 km) long and 9 miles (14 km) wide, in the northern part of Lake Superior. The entire island is included in Isle Royale National Park and there are no permanent residents. The island is part of the U.S. state of Michigan despite being 56 miles (90 km) north of the Keweenaw Peninsula and only 15 miles (25 km) from the Canadian shore of the lake. During the summer season the island is accessible by seaplane and by passenger ferries (May through September, on varying schedules) from Grand Portage, Minnesota; Copper Harbor, Michigan; and Houghton, Michigan. The park and island are closed during the winter (November through mid-April).
* Passage Island
1882. Active; focal plane 78 ft (24 m); white flash every 5 s. 44 ft (13.5 m) octagonal cylindrical fieldstone tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 1-1/2 story "Norman Gothic" fieldstone keeper's house; 190 mm lens (1989). Lighthouse unpainted; lantern and gallery painted white, lantern roof red. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. The 4th order Fresnel lens installed in 1897 is on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit, and a more recent 4th order Fresnel lens is on display in the lobby of the Portage River Coast Guard Station in Dollar Bay. The tower also carries an array of weather instruments as a NOAA C-MAN station. Bash's photo is at right, Carl TerHaar has a fine closeup photo, Paul Huber has a photo, Dawn Carlson has a 2020 view from the lake, Lighthouse Digest has Don Nelson's October 2001 feature on the history of the light station, Del Barton (a retired Park Service ranger) has a 1983 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Sibling of Sand Island Light, Wisconsin. This is a complete and well preserved light station, including the original corrugated metal fog signal building, boathouse, and other buildings. Located on a rocky island about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Blake Point, the northeastern end of Isle Royale. Accessible only by boat. Guided tours from Rock Harbor are available in season. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Isle Royale National Park. ARLHS USA-583; USCG 7-16835.
Blake Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 ft (12 m); white flash every 2.5 s. 30 ft (9 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower carrying diamond-shaped daymarks colored with a red and white checkerboard pattern. Bruce Bauer has a closeup photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on the extreme northeastern tip of Isle Royale. Accessible only by boat. USCG 7-16820.

Passage Island Light, Lake Superior, August 2023
Instagram photo by drewstravelpage
** Rock Harbor
1856. Inactive 1859-1874 and since 1879. 50 ft (15 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 1-1/2 story rubblestone keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern is black with a red roof. Anderson has a good page with several photos, Wally Morrow has a 2018 photo, Ray Dumas has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This long-abandoned lighthouse was in very poor condition when the National Park Service began restoration in 1962. The building now houses a small maritime museum that includes a 4th order Fresnel lens. Located on the northeastern coast of Isle Royale, marking the entrance to the well-sheltered Rock Harbor. Accessible by a short hike from the boat landing. Site open (self-guided tour), museum open, tower normally open in season but it was closed "for maintenance" during the 2022 season. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Isle Royale National Park. . ARLHS USA-696.
Isle Royale (Menagerie Island)
1875. Active; focal plane 72 ft (22 m); white flash every 6 s. 61 ft (18.5 m) octagonal sandstone tower with lantern and gallery attached to a 2-story, hipped-roof sandstone keeper's house; 300 mm lens. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is listed as being on loan to Isle Royale National Park, but we do not know its location. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black. The keeper's house is very similar to the keeper's house at Au Sable Light. Bash's photo is at right, Teresa Forrest has a closeup photo, Jim Bielecki has a 2016 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Located on a small waveswept, rocky island off the south coast of Isle Royale. Accessible only by boat; visible from tour boats circling the park. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Isle Royale National Park. ARLHS USA-407; USCG 7-16710.
Rock of Ages
1910. Active; focal plane 130 ft (39.5 m); white flash every 10 s. 117 ft (35.5 m) round "bottle" style steel tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating keeper's quarters, mounted on a concrete and steel caisson; 300 mm lens (1985). The original 2nd order Fresnel lens, removed in 1985, is on display at the national park's Windigo Information Station. Tower painted white; lantern, gallery and watch room painted black. The tower also carries an array of weather instruments as a NOAA C-MAN station. Rob Malilay has a 2021 photo, Bash has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Bing has a distant satellite view. The design of this lighthouse is unique, although it bears some resemblence to the 1893 Chicago Harbor Light. In 2008 the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed to work for restoration of the lighthouse, and since then society members have worked to restore the interior of the building. It's a slow, room by room process, but the plan is to bring the lighthouse into shape to open to visitors. In 2023, with the helpo of a $46,000 sttate grant, a contractor was hired to restore and repaint the exterior of the tower. Located off the western end of Isle Royale. Accessible only by boat. Visible from ferries to the island from Grand Portage, Minnesota. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Isle Royale National Park. . ARLHS USA-698; USCG 7-16655.
Isle Royale Light
Menagerie Island Light, Isle Royale, July 2004
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo
by C.W. Bash

Keweenaw Peninsula Lighthouses

Shaped rather like a bird's wing, the Keweenaw Peninsula (pronounced key-win-naw) arcs northeastward about 60 mi (100 km) into the south side of Lake Superior. The Keweenaw Waterway, opened in the 1860s, provides a shortcut from southeast to northwest across the peninsula; the portion of the peninsula cut off by the waterway has become known as Copper Island. The lower half of the peninsula (including the waterway) is in Houghton County and the upper half is in Keweenaw County.

Northern Houghton County Lighthouses
[Rouleau Point Range Rear (3)]
Date unknown (station established 1897). Active; focal plane 51 ft (16 m); continuous white light. Approx. 35 ft (11 m) square skeletal tower; the tower carries a rectangular daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. The original 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house, brick oil house, and a wood shed survive at this station. The house is a private residence. A photo is available and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This range guides vessels approaching the canal section at the north end of the Keweenaw Waterway. The front light is on a post. Located on MI 203 about 3 miles (5 km) south of Lake Superior. Site and tower closed, although the tower and house can be seen from the road. ARLHS USA-705; USCG 7-15045.
Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance
1950. Active; focal plane 82 ft (25 m); white flash every 15 s. 21 m (70 ft) round cylindrical steel tower, painted white, mounted on 1-story concrete fog signal building, built on a crib. No lantern. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. William Dahlgren's photo is at right, Bash has a closeup photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Jeff Mager has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Lighthouse Digest has Donald Nelson's article on the history of the light station and its predecessor, the onshore Portage Lake Ship Canal lighthouse. Located just off the end of the breakwater on the east side of the Portage River upper entrance. There are good views from the adjacent McLain State Park, off MI 203 about 8 miles (13 km) north of Hancock. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-419; USCG 15120.

Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light, Hancock, September 2019
Google Maps photo by William Dahlgren

Keweenaw County: Keweenaw Peninsula Lighthouses
Sand Hills
1919. Inactive since 1954; charted as a landmark. 91 ft (28 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from 2-story brick keeper's house. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on loan to the Great Lakes Maritime Institute in Detroit, although its return has been requested. Lighthouse is unpainted salmon-colored brick; lantern painted black. Original stucco fog signal building. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, James Hatcher has a 2007 photo, Kyle Newmeyer has a 2019 photo, a 2014 closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. This substantial and handsome lighthouse was one of the last major lighthouses built on the Great Lakes. The lighthouse was sold into private hands in 1958 and in 1961 the station was purchased by Bill Frabotta, who renovated the fog signal building as a summer home, leaving the lighthouse itself vacant. The renovation of the lighthouse into a bed and breakfast inn began in 1992 and the inn opened in 1995. In 2001 the fog signal building was restored to its original configuration. In 2019 the property was sold to Edward Cole, the owner of the Eagle River lighthouse (next entry), and the light station was closed for a complete restoration expected to take several years. Located at Five Mile Point, 5 miles (8 km) west of Eagle River. Site open, lighthouse and tower closed in 2021-22. Owner/site manager: Sand Hills Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-721.
* Eagle River
1858 (substantially rebuilt in 1884). Inactive since 1908. 24 ft (7 m) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery mounted on 1-1/2 story stone keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; roofs are red. Brandon Bush has a 2021 photo, Bash has a good photo, Barbara Foord has a 2023 photo, Wikipedia has an article with a small photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse was built on a poor foundation; it had to be renovated and partially rebuilt in 1884. The lighthouse was long maintained as a private residence by the Vivian family. In 2014 it was purchased by Edward Cole, who has opened it for overnight accommodations. Located in the town of Eagle River, on the west side of the river; a historic footbridge leads to the lighthouse. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Eagle River Lighthouse . ARLHS USA-257.
**** Eagle Harbor (2)
1871 (station established 1851). Active; focal plane 60 ft (18 m); flash every 10 s, alternating red and white. 44 ft (13.5 m) octagonal brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to 1-1/2 story "Norman Gothic" brick keeper's house; DCB-224 aerobeacon (1968). Tower unpainted, except two front faces are painted white; lantern roof is red. Rectangular steel wood fog signal building (1895), oil house, and 2 wood assistant keeper's quarters relocated from the Coast Guard station across the harbor. Larry Myhre's photo is at the top of this page, Katie Vonderembse has a 2021 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Sara Neave has a closeup street view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The light station houses several small museums; the original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display. In 1999 Congress deeded the station to the county historical society. In February 2019 the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program granted $33,000 to restore the windows of the lighthouse. and in March 2023 it granted $60,000 for exterior and interior repairs. Located at the harbor entrance just off MI 26 in Eagle Harbor. Site open, museum open daily mid June to early October. Owner/site manager: Keweenaw County Historical Society (Eagle Harbor Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-253; USCG 7-15195.

Sand Hills Light, Ahmeek, August 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey
* Eagle Harbor Range Rear (1)
1877. Inactive since 1911. Square wood cupola on a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; roofs are red. Sibling of Copper Harbor Range Rear. James Rowe has a 2021 photo and drone view, Lighthouse Digest has Don Nelson's article on the history of the station, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse was relocated to the north side of MI 26 in 1932 and since then it has been a private summer residence. A brick storage building remains at the original site along with the modern post lights (front range focal plane 25 ft (7.5 m), quick-flashing green light; rear range focal plane 34 ft (10 m), green light, 3 s on, 3 s off; both lights also have large red-and-white vertically striped daymarks). Photos of the current front and rear lights are available; Google has a street view and a satellite view of the modern front light standing beside MI 26. Located on the south side of the harbor, east of the town of Eagle Harbor. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-255; Modern lights: USCG 7-15210 and 15215.
* Copper Harbor Range Rear (1)
1865. Inactive since 1964. 11 m (36 ft) square wood cupola on a 1-1/2 story stone and wood keeper's house. Wood upper portion painted white; roof is dark red. Bash has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Beautifully restored, the building was formerly used as the residence of the assistant superintendent of Fort Wilkins Historic State Park but it stood empty for years. Archaeologists studying the property helped create a plan for restoration and work on the exterior of the building was underway in summer 2016. Located in the state park near the end of US 41 east of the town of Copper Harbor. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Michigan History Museum System. Site manager: Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. ARLHS USA-1074.
* Copper Harbor Range Rear (2)
1964 (station established 1865). Active; focal plane 41 ft (12.5 m); continuous white light. 32 ft (10 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower. Located in front of the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Google has a satellite view. Owner: Michigan History Museum System. Site manager: Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. USCG 7-15190.
Copper Harbor (2)
1866 (station established 1848). Inactive since 1933. 62 ft (19 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and gallery painted black; roofs are red. The 1-story rubblestone keeper's house from the original lighthouse (1848) is also preserved. The original 5th order Fresnel lens is on display on site. Doug Monstrola's 2023 drone view is at right, Eve Jaehnen has a 2021 photo, Nathan Miller has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Paul Lehman has a drone view, and Google has a satellite view. The light station has been a maritime museum attached to Fort Wilkins Historic State Park since 1963. In 2012 the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Located at the eastern entrance to the harbor, on the mainland but inaccessible by land (no public road). The station is only accessible by boat. Tours formerly available were suspended due to lack of a contractor; state park officials are seeking a new tour operator. Site and tower closed as of fall 2017. Owner: Michigan Historical Museum System. Site manager: Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. . ARLHS USA-193.
Copper Harbor (3)
1933 (station established 1848). Active; focal plane 90 ft (27.5 m); green flash every 6 s. 62 ft (19 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted white. Nathan Miller has a photo, Walter Elliott has a photo of the two lighthouses, Paul Lehman has a drone view, and Google has a satellite view. Located adjacent to the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-15175.


Copper Harbor Light, Copper Harbor, July 2023
Google Maps photo
by Doug Monstrola

Gull Rock
1867. Active; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); two white flashes every 5 s. 46 ft (14 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to 2-story brick keeper's house; 250 mm lens. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is said to be on display at Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point (see Eastern Upper Peninsula), although Terry Pepper reported that the lens on display there may be misidentified. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and gallery painted black; roofs are red. Gravely endangered by erosion and wave action, this lighthouse spent time on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The exterior of the lighthouse was recently repainted and repaired. The interior, heavily damaged by water before the roof was replaced, was in ruins. A photo is at right, Lighthouse Digest has Don Nelson's April 2002 feature story on the lighthouse, a 2015 photo is available, Nathan Miller has a 2017 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. In 2005 ownership was transferred to two preservation groups, one of which, the Gull Rock Lightkeepers, began the task of restoration. The first step, raising funds to be used as matching money for a larger grant, was assisted in June 2006 by a $5000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In December, the state granted $40,000 to start repairs of the lighthouse. Serious restoration work began in the summer of 2008; a new roof was installed on the lighthouse and debris was cleared from the interior. Work in 2012 including new subflooring to provide a base for interior restoration. Work has continued steadily, as described frequently on the Gull Rock Lightkeepers Facebook page. Located on a small island between Keweenaw Point and Manitou Island at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Accessible only by boat (dangerous to attempt landing). Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: Gull Rock Lightkeepers and Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy . ARLHS USA-361; USCG 7-15165.


Gull Rock Light, Lake Superior, 2017
unattributed photo
from Advance Local Media (Ann Arbor News)

Manitou (Manitou Island) (2)
1862 (station established 1849). Active; focal plane 81 ft (25 m); white flash every 10 s. 80 ft (24.5 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder, lantern, and gallery, attached to 2-story wood keeper's house; 190 mm lens. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) as needed. Fog signal building (1930). Nathan Miller's photo is at right, Dawn Carlson has a 2020 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Sibling of Whitefish Point Light (see Eastern Upper Peninsula); these are the only two examples of this design that survive. The lighthouse is endangered by beach erosion; Lighthouse Heritage reports that the original foundation of the tower has been eroded. Terry Pepper visited the station in 2003 and reported the buildings to be in relatively good condition. In 2004 the light station was transferred to the Keweenaw Land Trust under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Volunteers have succeeded in stabilizing the buildings and there are (or were) plans for restoration. It's not clear if work is continuing. Located on the western tip of the island about 5 miles (8 km) east of Keweenaw Point. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Owner/site manager: Keweenaw Land Trust (Manitou Island Light Station Preserve). ARLHS USA-470; USCG 7-15170.
Mendota (Bete Grise) (2)
1895 (station established 1869). Reactivated (inactive 1956-1998, now privately maintained); focal plane 44 ft (13 m); white flash every 20 s. 37 ft (11 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from 2-story brick keeper's house. The original 4th order Fresnel lens was restored to use in 1998. Lighthouse painted white with black trim; lantern is black, lantern roof red. Denny Williams has a 2021 photo, Bash has a photo, Walter Elloitt has a 2015 photo, another photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view of the station. The light station was established in 1869 but discontinued the following year. The lighthouse was restored by its owner, Gary Kohs, and local volunteers. Kohs located the 4th order lens and successfully repaired it. He moved to Marine City (near Detroit) around 2011 but continued to maintain the lighthouse. He died in December 2017 and in 2020 his heirs offered the lighthouse for sale for $495,000. It was sold quickly to new owners who pledged to continue Kohs' work. In 2021 they replaced the windows in the building. Located on the south side of the Mendota Ship Channel (the entrance to Lac La Belle) on the south side of Bete Grise. There is a view from the end of Bete Grise Road on the opposite side of the channel. Site and tower open with owner's permission. Owner/site manager: private (Mendota Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-489; USCG 7-15151.

Manitou Island Light, September 2016
ex-Google Plus photo
by Nathan Miller

Eastern Houghton County Lighthouses
* Jacobsville (Portage River) (2)
1870 (station established 1856). Inactive since 1920; charted as a landmark. 45 ft (13.5 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery red. A 2023 photo is at right, C.M. Hanchey has a 2011 photo, Larry Myhre has a good photo, Nick Hanna has a 2017 closeup, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. For many years the lighthouse was a very well maintained private residence. In 2004 the light station was sold and the new owners opened it as a bed and breakfast inn in April 2005. In 2018 they announced the inn was for sale and would close at the end of the year. In 2021 it was on sale for $550,000 and in 2022 it was sold to the Harbourt family, who have plans to restore the lighthouse. Located at the end of Jacobs Street, east of the waterway entrance in Jacobsville. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: private (Portage River Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-658.
Keweenaw Waterway (Portage Lake) Lower Entrance (2)
1920 (station established 1902). Active; focal plane 68 ft (21 m); white light occulting every 4 s. 62 ft (19 m) octagonal cylindrical steel tower with lantern and gallery on a square concrete base incorporating fog signal. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black, lantern roof red. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. No keeper's quarters; the light has always been automated. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at the top of this page, Nathan Miller has a good photo, Scott Tanis has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, James Miller has a street view along the breakwater, and Google has a satellite view. Lighthouse Digest has a historic photo of the original lighthouse and Anderson has a historic photo from the National Archives showing both towers. In May 2014 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. The Keweenaw Waterway Lighthouse Conservancy was organized to apply for ownership and in October 2015 the Conservancy was named as the new owner. Ownership of the lighthouse was transferred in September 2016. In 2018 the Lighthouse Assistance Program granted $7500 to support restoration planning. Apparently these efforts were abandoned and in March 2022 the General Services Administration issued a notice seeking a new owner. There was no response, and in September 2023 the lighthouse was sold at auction for $88,000. Located at the end of the breakwater on the east side of the Portage River (and Keweenaw Waterway) entrance in Jacobsville. Might be accessible in good weather by walking the pier, but this is not recommended since the breakwater has sloping sides and no handrails. There are good views from parking available at the base of the pier. Site open, tower closed. Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-418; USCG 7-14765.

Portage River Light, Jacobsville, August 2022
unattributed Google Maps photo
Keweenaw Waterway South Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 57 ft (17.5 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only along the range line. 57 ft (17.5 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. This range guides southbound vessels in the waterway. Located on an eastern branch of the Portage River about 1.5 mi (2.5 km) north of the Lower Entrance. Accessible only boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-14825.

Baraga County (Keweenaw Bay) Lighthouses

Keweenaw Bay is an inlet of Lake Superior at the east side of the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The bay is 22 mi (35 km) long and 12 mi (19 km) wide at the mouth.
* Sand Point (Baraga) (1)
1878. Inactive since 1922; charted as a landmark. Square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from 2-story brick keeper's quarters. Lighthouse is unpainted red brick with white trim; lantern and gallery painted white. The active light is on a square cylindrical steel skeletal tower (next entry). A 2021 photo is at right, Jason Franklin also has a 2021 photo, Walter Dennis has a 2021 view from the lake, a closeup photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. One of two Sand Point Lights in Michigan, the other being at Escanaba (see Southern Upper Peninsula). The lighthouse was relocated 200 ft (60 m) inland in 1898 to escape beach erosion. The building has been significantly modified over its years as a private residence. Since 1994 it has been owned by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community as part of its Ojibwa Recreation Area. In fall 2018 work was underway to restore the gallery and gallery railing. Located off US 41 on the north side of the Baraga harbor entrance. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (Sand Point Lighthouse). . ARLHS USA-725.
* Sand Point (Baraga) (3?)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 40 ft (12 m); white flash every 4 s. 39 ft (12 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower mounted on a concrete pier. Walter Dennis has a 2021 view from the lake, Stan Smeed has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the lakeshore in front of the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-14750.
* L'Anse (Indian Country Sports)
1995. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 44 ft (13.5 m); white flash every 2.5 s. Approx. 43 ft (13 m) square cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery rising from one corner of a 1-1/2 story sporting goods store; ML-155 (150 mm) lens. Tower painted white; lantern is wood with a light brown stain. Phil Block has a photo, Seimen Burum has a photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse was built by Steve Koski, owner of Indian Country Sports and a member of the Huron Island Lighthouse Preservation Association. Located at 17 South Front Street on the corner of Baraga Avenue in downtown L'Anse. Site open, store open daily except Sunday. Owner/site manager: Indian Country Sports . ARLHS USA-1154; USCG 7-14763.

Sand Point Light, Baraga, August 2021
Instagram photo by lliwolg

Marquette County Lighthouses

Powell Township and Stannard Rock Lighthouses
Huron Island (Huron Islands)
1868. Active; focal plane 197 ft (60 m); white flash every 10 s. 39 ft (12 m) square cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to 1-1/2 story granite keeper's house; solar-powered light (1961). Lighthouse unpainted stone; lantern painted white with a black roof. Brick fog signal building (1881). The original 3-1/2 order Fresnel lens, restored in 2016, is on display at the Marquette Maritime Museum. Paul Timko has a closeup photo, Nathan Miller has a good photo, Marinas.com also has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The Huron Island Lighthouse Preservation Association (formed in 1999) works for preservation of the light station. The Association completed critically needed roof repairs and built a new dock to allow for additional restoration. In 2021 Fish and Wildlife released a restoration plan calling for preservation of the lighthouse, assistant keeper's quarters, and other historic structures but removal of more recent structures added by the Coast Guard. Recent appropriations totaling $330,000 will allow removal of hazardous materials and preparation of a plan for the restoration in 2022. Located at the northwest end of West Huron Island (Lighthouse Island), a small but high rocky island 6 miles (10 km) east of Point Abbaye, off the Huron Mountains. The island is part of the Huron Islands Wilderness. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Huron National Wildlife Refuge). Site manager: Huron Island Lighthouse Preservation Association . ARLHS USA-395; USCG 7-14730.
** Big Bay Point
1896. Reactivated (inactive 1961-1990); focal plane 89 ft (27 m); white flash every 6 s. 65 ft (20 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to 2-story brick keeper's house. Brick fog signal building and oil house. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is on display in the lighthouse. The lighthouse is unpainted red brick; lantern, gallery and watch room painted white, lantern roof red. Larry Myhre's photo is at right, Troy Zawacke has a 2023 photo, Wikimedia has a good photo, James Essex has a closeup photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Colin Dullaghan has a street view from the gallery, Bradley Day has a 2019 street view, and Google has a satellite view. The light station was sold after deactivation in 1961. After many years as a private residence it became a conference center in 1979 and then opened as a bed and breakfast inn in 1986. The owners were able to retrieve the original 3rd order Fresnel lens (then in possession of a hotel in Traverse City). In 2018 the lighthouse was sold to Nick Korstad, previously known to lighthouse fans for his work restoring the Borden Flats Lighthouse in Massachusetts. In 2024 Korstad put the lighthouse back on sale, asking $1.95 million. Located at the end of Lighthouse Road about 3.5 miles (5.5 km) east of the village of Big Bay. Site open, inn open year round. Owner/site manager: Big Bay Point Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast . ARLHS USA-053; USCG 7-14705.
Big Bay Point Light
Big Bay Point Light, Big Bay, October 2004
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Larry Myhre
Stannard Rock
1882 (John A. Bailey). Active; focal plane 102 ft (31 m); white flash every 6 s. 110 ft (33.5 m) round granite tower with lantern and gallery, incorporating keeper's quarters, built on a crib; solar-powered 300 mm lens. The original 2nd order Fresnel lens, rediscovered in a Coast Guard warehouse in 1999, is on display at the Marquette Maritime Museum in Marquette; the base unit for the lens was relocated from the tower to the museum in 2000. Tower is unpainted stone; lantern and gallery painted black. Jen & Erick Rumphol's 2023 photo is at right, Travis White has a 2018 photo, Wikipedia has a long article on the station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and the Coast Guard has a historic photo, but the reef is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Stannard Rock is named for its discoverer, Capt. Charles Stannard, who found the shoal in 1835. This is the most exposed of all Great Lakes lighthouses. It was automated after its interior was gutted by explosion and fire on 18 June 1961. In May 2012 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA, and in November 2015 it was deeded to the Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Trust. The Trust plans to use the lighthouse as a base for Great Lakes climate research. Volunteers have cleaned and repaired the tower, but about $2 million is needed to restore the interior as housing for climate researchers. For many years the tower carried an array of weather instruments as a NOAA C-MAN station but in September 2017 the weather station was moved to a high-tech buoy about a mile away. In late 2023 the Partnership began a campaign to raise the $2 million needed. Located in Lake Superior 23 mi (37 km) southeast of Manitou Island and 25 mi (40 km) north of Marquette. Accessible only by boat; tours available. Site and tower closed. Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Owner/site manager: Superior Watershed Partnership and Land Trust. . ARLHS USA-808; USCG 7-14725.

Marquette Area Lighthouses
Granite Island (1)
1869. Inactive since 1939. 40 ft (12 m) square cylindrical granite tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to 2-story granite keeper's quarters. Lighthouse is unpainted stone; lantern and gallery painted black. Steel bell tower (1910) (bell removed). Lighthouse Digest has Donald Nelson's article on the history of the light station, Anderson has a good page, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Bing has an indistinct satellite view. Formerly abandoned and endangered, the lighthouse and the island were sold in 1999 for $86,003 to Scott Holman, a director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. Over several years he completed the restoration of the light station and the lighthouse was then removed from the Doomsday List. Located on a small island 6 miles (10 km) off Thoney Point, north of Marquette. Accessible only by boat; tours available. Site open, tower closed. Owner: private. Site manager: Granite Island Light Station . ARLHS USA-333.

Stannard Rock Light, Lake Superior, March 2023
Instagram photo by Jen & Erick Rumphol
Granite Island (3)
1995 (station established 1869). Active; focal plane focal plane 96 ft (29 m); white flash every 6 s. Approx. 50 ft (15 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower. Located close to the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-14700.
Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater
1941. Active; focal plane 56 ft (17 m); red flash every 4 s. 40 ft (12 m) round cylindrical steel tower rising from octagonal steel fog signal enclosure, mounted on square concrete base. No lantern. Lighthouse painted white with a single red horizontal band. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) as needed. Daniel Childers has a 2021 photo, Ben Brashear has a photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Daniel Chandler has a distant street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater off Lakeshore Drive on the north side of Marquette. Walking the pier is possible in good weather but not recommended. There are good views from the city's Presque Isle Park. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-1111; USCG 7-14670.
**** Marquette Harbor (2)
1866 (station established 1853). Active; focal plane 77 ft (23.5 m); white flash every 10 s. 40 ft (12 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to a 2-1/2 story brick keeper's house. A DCB-24 aerobeacon from this lighthouse on display at the Marquette Maritime Museum. The original 4th order Fresnel lens was transferred to the Breakwater Outer Light (next entry) in 1908 and is now also on display at the museum. Lighthouse painted bright red; lantern and gallery painted white with a red roof. The second story of the building was added in 1906. Fog signal building (1881) connected to the lighthouse by a long catwalk. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Darrell Harden has a good photo, Bill Forthofer has a 2018 photo, Lighthouse Digest has featured the history of the light station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Brian Dibbern has a street view from a nearby beach, and Google has a satellite view. This was an active Coast Guard station until 2002; the Coast Guard then leased the lighthouse to the museum, which began offering guided tours during the summer season. In 2003 the first floor was restored with the help of high school shop students and in 2005 a $40,000 state grant funded restoration of the exterior. In 2013 a fund drive was underway for repairs to the building and repainting. The exterior was painted in the spring of 2015. On 30 July 2016 the lighthouse was transferred to city ownership during the celebration of its 150th birthday. In September 2019 the city opened Lighthouse Park surrounding the lighthouse, maritime musuem, and Coast Guard building. In 2021 restoration plans included repainting, replacing doors and windows, and repairs to the ceiling of the second floor. The tower was opened in 2023. Located on Lighthouse Point on the north side of Marquette Harbor. Good views from harbor boat tours. Site and tpwer open only to guided tours from the museum. Owner: City of Marquette. Site manager: Marquette Maritime Museum (Marquette Harbor Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-477; USCG 7-14630.
Marquette Harbor Light
Marquette Harbor Light, Marquette, August 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey
[Marquette Breakwater Outer (2)]
1908 (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 36 ft (11 m); white light occulting every 4 s. Approx. 30 ft (9 m) "D9" cylindrical steel tower painted white with one red horizontal band. The original 4th order Fresnel lens (1866), transferred from the Marquette Harbor Light, is on display at the Marquette Maritime Museum. Scott Symonds has a 2021 photo and Google has a satellite view. The original light, a 36 ft (11 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower with an enclosed workroom below the lantern, was demolished in 1986; Anderson has a historic postcard view. Located at the end of the breakwater. Site and tower closed. Site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-476; USCG 7-14635.

Alger County Lighthouses

Munising Area Lighthouses
* Christmas (Grand Island Harbor Range Rear) (2)
1914 (station established 1868). Inactive since 1969. 62 ft (19 m) round steel tower with lantern and gallery. The front (north) side of the upper half of the tower is painted white; the rest of the tower is painted black, including the lantern and gallery. Guy wires steady the tower. The light serves general purposes but also functions as a range with the Bay Furnace Light (next entry), a cylindrical tower just to the north. During the Christmas season, the lighthouse is floodlit and holiday lights adorn the guy wires. William Hua's photo is at right, Bash has a photo, Kevin Stewart has a photo, Kelly Majchszak has a 2020 photo, a closeup drone view is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Anderson has a historic photo of the original lighthouse, a wood tower rising from a 1-1/2 story keeper's house. The house, minus the light tower, was moved to Munising where it is in use as a private residence (see below). Note: several sources claim that the upper half of this lighthouse was originally the Vidal Shoals Channel Range Front Light, built in 1899 in Sault Sainte Marie. Research by Terry Pepper and Dave Wobser disproved this assertion. Located on the east side of the village of Christmas, about 50 yd (45 m) off MI 28 on the land side opposite the Bay Furnace Light, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Munising. It's best to park on the highway, visitors say; space for several vehicles is available across the road. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Forest Service. Site manager: Hiawatha National Forest. ARLHS USA-981.
[Bay Furnace (4) (Grand Island Harbor Range Front)]
1983 (station established 1868). Active; focal plane 20 ft (6 m), white flash every 2.5 s with higher intensity on the former range line. 20 ft (6 m) "D9" white round cylindrical steel tower. Kevin Stewart has a closeup photo, Jim Tobita has a photo, and Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. The foundation of a 1914 post light is also visible on the beach. Located on the east side of the village of Christmas, where it is visible from MI 28 on the lake side, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Munising. Located on the lakeshore just north of the Christmas Light. Accessible by a short hiking trail. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Hiawatha National Forest. ARLHS USA-980; USCG 7-14600.

Christmas Light, Munising, August 2017
Google Maps photo by William Hua
Grand Island North (Old North) (2)
1867 (station established 1856). Inactive since 1961. 40 ft (12 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Tower painted white, lantern black; the house is currently painted a pale yellow. The modern light (1961; focal plane 190 ft (58 m), white flash every 6 s) is mounted on a 25 ft (7.5 m) white post in front of the lighthouse. Dawn Carlson has a drone view, a 2022 view is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The light station is at the top of a spectacular 165 ft (50 m) vertical cliff. The lighthouse is a private summer residence, renovated and modernized by its current owners, Pat and Loren Graham. The Grahams have proposed donating the lighthouse to the Marquette Regional History Center, but negotiations over the donation have become snarled in governmental regulations. Located at the northern tip of Grand Island north of Munising. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-329. Active light: USCG 7-14570.
Grand Island East Channel
1870. Inactive since 1913. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical wood tower with lantern and gallery attached church-style to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's quarters. Brenda Ruzbasan has the 2021 photo at right, a 2018 photo is available, Michael Koole has a 2008 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Lighthouse Digest featured the lighthouse in its January 2000 issue, and Google has a lake view and a satellite view. Critically endangered by past neglect and beach erosion. The owner and local volunteers have done some stabilization work in an effort to save the lighthouse, and the American Lighthouse Foundation launched a fundraising campaign. In 2000 volunteers built 75% of a seawall to protect the lighthouse. In 2001 the seawall was completed and work was scheduled to begin on the building. The Alger Historical Society was coordinating preservation efforts. The 2021 photo at right shows that there's been no progress on restoring the exterior of the lighthouse. Located on the southeast coast of Grand Island at the entrance to Grand Island Harbor Bay. Visible from boat tours of the Pictured Rocks lakeshore. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-328.
* [Christmas (Grand Island Harbor Range Rear) (1) (keeper's house)]
1868. Inactive since 1914. 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house; the original square light tower has been removed. Google has a satellite view and a distant street view. Located at Oak and Superior Streets in Munising. Site closed, but the house can be viewed from the street. Owner/site manager: private.

Grand Island East Channel Light, Grand Island, June 2021
ex-Google Maps photo by Brenda Ruzbasan
* Munising Entrance Leading (ex-Range Front)
1908. Active; focal plane 79 ft (24 m); continuous light, white, red or green depending on direction. 58 ft (17.5 m) round steel tower with lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse painted white. The 1-1/2 story brick and wood keeper's house (identical to the one at Grand Marais) is used for offices by the park service. Brick oil house with tin roof. Jean Aardsma's 2018 photo is at right, Bash has a good photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. In 2002 the Coast Guard transferred ownership of the range lights to the National Park Service. In 2008-09 the two towers were sandblasted, repaired, and repainted. The keeper's house has been renovated for offices for Park Service science and natural resources staff. In 2019 the Coast Guard replaced the range lights with a leading light. Located on MI 28 at Hemlock Street in Munising. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. . ARLHS USA-948; USCG 7-14575.
* Munising Range Rear
1908. Inactive since 2019. 33 ft (10 m) round steel tower. Entire lighthouse painted white. Rachel Miracle has a 2021 photo, Brian Burch has a good photo, and Bash has another good photo, but trees partially conceal the lighthouse in Google's satellite view. Located on a hillside at the south end of Hemlock Street in Munising. Site open, tower closed. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. ARLHS USA-949; ex-USCG 7-14580.

Munising Entrance Leading Light, Munising, July 2018
Google Maps photo by Jean Aardsma

Grand Marais Area Lighthouses
*** Au Sable
1874 (O.M. Poe). Active; focal plane 100 ft (30.5 m); white flash every 6 s. 87 ft (26.5 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery attached to 2-story brick, hipped-roof keeper's house; 300 mm lens mounted outside the lantern. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens was returned to the tower in 1996 after 39 years on display at the Grand Marais Maritime Museum. Lighthouse painted white with black trim; lantern and gallery painted black. A complete and beautifully restored light station, including a brick fog signal building (1897), assistant keeper's house (1909), steel oil house (1915), and other structures. Since 1988 the National Park Service has been restoring the light station to its appearance in 1910. The keeper's house has been renovated to house a visitor center on the lower floor and an apartment for volunteer caretakers on the upper floor. A photo appears at right, Kelly Krupka has a good photo, the Park Service has a web page for the light station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on Big Sable Point, a prominent cape off County Road 58 about 12 miles (20 km) west of Grand Marais. Accessible by a hike of 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the east end of the lower Hurricane River Campground. Site open, guided tours of the station and tower Wednesday through Sunday from July 1 through late August. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. . ARLHS USA-022; USCG 7-14565.
*** Grand Marais Harbor of Refuge Outer
1895. Active; focal plane 40 ft (12 m); white flash every 2.5 s. 34 ft (10 m) square pyamidal skeletal tower with gallery and an enclosed workroom below the light; lantern removed. Entire lighthouse painted white. Fog horn (blast every 15 s on demand). Tim Johnson has a 2022 photo, D. Malewski has a closeup photo and Google has a satellite view. The two Grand Marais lights were designed to function as a range but they are no longer used in that way. The harbor is sheltered by a sand spit stabilized by a terminal groin. Located at the north end of the groin. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1080; USCG 7-14550.
*** Grand Marais Harbor of Refuge Inner
1898. Active; focal plane 54 ft (16.5 m); continuous white light. 47 ft (14 m) square pyamidal skeletal tower with lantern, gallery, and an enclosed workroom below the lantern. Original 5th order Fresnel lens in use. Entire lighthouse painted white. The 2-story brick keeper's house (1908) is now the Lightkeepers House Museum. Jim Kallinen's photo is at the bottom of the page, a good closeup is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Google also has a street view of the keeper's house. The inner light is located at the south end of the groin, near the keeper's house. The keeper's house was closed in 2022 for restoration by the Park Service. Site open; museum normally open daily (free) in July and August, weekends in June and September; towers closed. Owner: (tower) U.S. Coast Guard, (keeper's house) U.S. National Park Service (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore). Site manager: Grand Marais Historical Society. . ARLHS USA-1079; USCG 7-14560.
Au Sable Light
Au Sable Light, Pictured Rocks Lakeshore, August 2008
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Nakor

Luce County Lighthouse

** Crisp Point
1904. Reactivated (inactive 1947-2013, now privately maintained); focal plane about 60 ft (18 m); white flash every 6 s. 58 ft (17.5 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-story brick service building. Lighthouse painted white; lantern and gallery painted black, lantern roof red. The keeper's house and other buildings have all been demolished or washed away by the lake. A photo appears at right, Anderson's page has good photos and the history of the light, Ed Jones has a 2020 photo, a 2010 photo is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, a street view from atop the tower is available, the Coast Guard has a historic photo showing the keeper's house, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The tower has been endangered by beach erosion, as seen in a 2004 photo. Riprap placed around the tower base provided at least temporary protection, but storm waves threatened the station as recently as November 2005. An August 2006 photo showed much improved conditions but a higher lake level in 2014 brought the water close to the lighthouse. Volunteers are working to save the tower and provide parking and facilities. In late 2006 construction began to replace the brick service building lost to erosion in 1996; the building was completed in 2007. In 2009 a replica of the original fog signal building was built as a visitor center for the station and a 4th order Fresnel lens has been loaned to the society for display. In November 2012 a new ML-300 lens was installed and the lighthouse was reactivated in May 2013. In August 2013 a new 3810 acre (1542 hectare) nature preserve was established to protect the site. In 2021 the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program granted $60,000 to assist with external restoration of the tower. Located at the end of county road 412, which was extended to the lighthouse in 1999; to find this road turn off MI 123 onto county road 500 halfway between Paradise and Newberry (these are unpaved roads: 4WD recommended). Site open, tower open weekends in season. Owner/site manager: Crisp Point Light Historical Society . ARLHS USA-203; USCG 7-14535.

Crisp Point Light, Luce County, June 2012
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Mark

Information available on lost lighthouses:

  • Copper Harbor Range Front (1865-1927), Copper Harbor. The lighthouse was replaced by a skeletal tower. ARLHS USA-1153.
  • Eagle Harbor Range Front (1877-1962?), Eagle Harbor. The range was deactivated in 1912 and then reestablished in 1939; the front range tower was replaced by a post light in 1962 (see above under the rear range light). ARLHS USA-254.
  • Portage Lake Ship Canal (1874 -1930s), north entrance to the Keweenaw Waterway. Anderson discusses this lighthouse on his Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance page and has a historic photo. The lighthouse was demolished to allow for widening of the waterway entrance. ARLHS USA-657.
  • Portage Lake Ship Canal Pierhead (1878-1940s), north entrance to the Keweenaw Waterway. Anderson discusses this lighthouse on his Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance page and has a historic photo. The lighthouse was replaced by the offshore Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance lighthouse.
  • Portage River Range Front (1868-?), Jacobsville. Anderson discusses this lighthouse on his Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance page. No photo available. The second (1900) light was probably a sibling of the Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor front lights.
  • Portage River Range Rear (1868-?), Jacobsville. Anderson discusses this lighthouse on his Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance page and has a historic photo from the National Archives. It is not known when this entrance range was deactivated.

Notable faux lighthouses:


Harbor of Refuge Inner Light, Grand Marais, June 2016
ex-Google Plus photo by Jim Kallinen

Adjoining pages: East: Eastern Upper Peninsula | West: Northern Wisconsin

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index

Posted May 2005. Checked and revised October 17, 2023. Lighthouses: 42. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.