In Upper Michigan alone, there are about 123 Lighthouses. Some are accessible, some are not. On these pages, I chose six Lighthouses scattered throughout this region, not as representations of the entire collection, but in regards to accessibility and to minimize travel cost. A full description of all 123 Lighthouses can be found in Jerry Roach's book 'The Ultimate Collection to Upper Michigan Lighthouses'. In addition, visit the websites Lake Superior Lighthouses and Lake Michigan Lighthouses for a more thorough discussion.
I give thanks to 'The Sunshine Motel' in Ontonagon (and apologize for waking you early by disrupting your dogs) and to 'The Superior Motel' in Munising (thank you Scott) for comfortable lodging.
I give thanks to 'The Sunshine Motel' in Ontonagon (and apologize for waking you early by disrupting your dogs) and to 'The Superior Motel' in Munising (thank you Scott) for comfortable lodging.
A - Ontonagon Lighthouse "As the legend of Ontonagon copper spread world wide, it didn't take long for the mines to open and miners to arrive to the area in droves. Congress approved funding for the lighthouse to guide mariners on September 28, 1850 and the beacon (a series of Lewis Lamps) was lit by Ontonagon's first keeper Samuel Peck in 1853. In 1857, the Lewis lamps were replaced by a fifth order Fresnel lens. In time, the original wooden structure was replaced by a brick building with an attached tower. Read More
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B - Sand Hills Lighthouse (Inn) "The Sand Hills Light-house is unique compared to any other Michigan lighthouse. Built with yellow brick, a 70-foot tower rises from the center of a keeper's dwelling built for three keepers and their families. Inside the tower the light was generated by a fourth order Fresnel lens. The light operated using an oil vapor lamp. By June 18, 1919, all the construction was complete and the light displayed for the first time. Read More
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C - Eagle Harbor Lighthouse "In 1850, a year after funding was approved by Congress, construction on a stone keeper's quarters with a wooden tower began at Eagle Harbor. Lewis lamps with reflectors were positioned in the tower 21-feet above the foundation. This provided a focal plane of 47-feet. Read More.
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D - Marquette Harbor Lighthouse"The 1830's saw an increase in copper and iron ore mining in Upper Michigan. Congress allocated $5,000 to build a new lighthouse and it was completed in 1853. The original light was produced by seven 14 inch Lewis lamps but replaced in 1856 with a fixed white sixth order Fresnel lens. Read More.
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E - Au Sable Point LighthouseThe numerous remains of sunken ships dotting the southern shoreline of Lake Superior are solemn reminders that sailing between Whitefish Point and Grand Island was not an easy task. Even with Whitefish Point Lighthouse built in 1849 and Grand Island North Lighthouse built in 1856, 80 miles of coastline remained in the dark. Wrecks continued to occur. Read More.
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F - Sand Point LighthouseWhen the Sand Point lighthouse was built in 1867, it was at the waters edge and warned ships off Sand Point and the sand reef which reached out into Little Bay De Noc. The attached brick tower was topped by a cast iron lantern room which housed a fourth order Fresnel lens. The light, a fixed red signal, first shown on the night of May 13, 1868. Read More.
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