Did you know Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state? They are a beacon into Michigan history β with rich backstories featuring shipwrecks, ghosts, and other lakeside lore. Here are eight Michigan lighthouses worth exploring the next time youβre on the shores of the Great Lakes.
, Frankfort
Ever wondered what itβs like to be a 19th-century lighthouse keeper? Point Betsie offers insight into the solitary, often dangerous job. Walk through the keeperβs 1858 living space, the fog signal building, and the Boathouse Museum, open during select summer and fall months (guided tours are $5). For a more immersive experience, rent the Keeperβs Quarters apartment for an overnight stay.
(west of Harbor Springs)
In 1856, the Harbor Light was built on Beaver Island at Whiskey Point, named after the areaβs leading source of profit. During prohibition, Lake Michigan lightship crews regularly stopped by Whiskey Point to party, which gave the island a bit of a lawless reputation. Today, visitors can learn more about the lighthouse with the on a ferry tour that departs from Charlevoix.
, Isle Royale
The Rock Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1855 to prepare for the anticipated influx of miners intending to take advantage of Isle Royaleβs copper β at the time, exploration and mining were newly permitted under a treaty. Mining on the island saw booms and busts; eventually, the light was extinguished for good in 1879.
, Big Bay
Established in the 1890s, Big Bay Point Lighthouse is now a bed-and-breakfast. But stay if you dare β you might meet the ghost of William Prior, the first keeper. According to legend, Prior hired his son George to be his assistant. Just over a year later, George fell on the steps of the landing crib and died soon after from his injuries. On June 28, 1901, the heartbroken keeper disappeared without a trace into the nearby woods with his gun and some strychnine. The possibly haunted lighthouse is located on a rocky landscape between Marquette and Portage.
, Lake Superior (24 miles from shoreline)
Feeling lonesome? At least you donβt have to live here. Stannard Rock Lighthouse, nicknamed βthe loneliest place in North America,β holds the national record for lighthouse farthest from the shore. Completed in 1882, itβs located on a hazardous reef that impacted navigation on Lake Superior. The exposed crib of the lighthouse is recognized as a top engineering feat in U.S. history.
, Paradise
Established in 1849, the Whitefish Point Light is the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior. The nearby shoreline is dubbed βShipwreck Coastβ β more than a third of known shipwrecks in Lake Superior are here. The wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald (which inspired Gordon Lightfootβs 1976 chart-topping hit) is 15 miles northwest.
, Port Huron
Built in 1823, the Fort Gratiot Light Station is Michiganβs oldest lighthouse. The original tower collapsed in 1828 due to its location and unstable design. In 1829, a new lighthouse was built by Lucius Lyon, who went on to be one of Michiganβs first senators. The new lighthouse was much more stable, with heightened visibility as ships entered the rapids at the head of the St. Clair River.
, Port Hope
The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse was built in 1848. Twenty-eight years later, the first lifesaving station on the Great Lakes was built nearby. Both were welcome additions β there are 105 known shipwrecks just offshore,Μύand the station staged over 200 rescues in its 62 years of operation.
What Is a Crib Lighthouse?
The Great Lakes are famous for their offshore crib lighthouses. In this context, βcribβ means a large wooden frame, constructed onshore. A crew tows it out by boat and fills it with stone so it sinks in place. This creates the foundation for the lighthouse.
This story is from the July 2023Μύissue of ΒιΆΉ·¬ΊΕ Detroit magazine. Read more in our digital edition.
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