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76 |
Manistique
(MI 43)
June 8, 2006
latitude 45° 56' 42" N longitude 86° 14' 47.8" W
This steel plate constructed lighthouse is painted fire
engine red to provide safe passage.
It stands 35 feet high and was commissioned in 1915 (from
a description plate at the end of the breakwater) |
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Seul Choix Point
(MI 42)
June 8, 2006
latitude 45º 55' 17.8" N longitude 85º 54'
41.8"W
French for "only choice" (but not pronounced like it's
French), this light declares about the only safe harbor on the northern
shore of Lake Michigan.
It contains a full museum and gift shop as well. |
| 79 |
St. Helena Island
(MI 39)
August 3, 2001
latitude 45º 51' 18" N longitude 84º 51' 52.2" W
Now owned by the Great Lake Lighthouse Keepers
Association (GLLKA), this is accessible only by boat. The GLLKA has
been renovating this place, they have a picture of two of them bringing an
organ (pump style) in on a rubber boat. The organ is twice the size
of the boat.
This picture was taken from on the
island, it is no where near as visible from any place on the water where a
boat can go. |
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McGulpin Point
(MI 79)
June 8, 2006
latitude 45° 47' 13.1" N longitude 84° 46'
21.8" W
Now a private residence, and hard to get close too, this light was
established in 1869 and deactivated in 1906 when the Mackinaw Point
Light (see Lake Huron) was established. |
| 2 |
Waugoshance
(MI 78)
July 19, 2001
This lighthouse is really nothing but ruins, was even
used by the Navy during WW II as a bomb practice site. It was
established in 1851 and was deactivated in 1910. The water here is
really shallow, so getting a boat close is tough, and it's miles from
the shore. |
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White Shoal
(MI 77)
July 19, 2001
The only "barber pole" (or "candy cane") lighthouse
on the Great Lakes, this is still an active lighthouse. Established
in 1910, it has been automated since 1976. The tower is 121 feet
high, but the base (under water) is actually taller. |
| 4 |
Gray's Reef
(MI 76)
July 19, 2001
Established in 1936 (in fact all 3 of these lights had
lightships present in 1851, it took a while to learn how to build this
deep), this lighthouse shows the Art Deco style so typical of the
'30s. It was automated in 1936 and still is an active
navigation aid.
The tower on the top is obsolete and the Coast Guard
would like to remove it. Preservationists of course do not like that
idea. |
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| 5 |
Squaw Island
(MI 41)
May 7, 2005 (Mother's Day eve)
latitude 45º 50' 21.5" N longitude 85º 35'
16.8" W
This picture is from a
GLLKAw1 tour that Marnie and I took the Saturday before Mother's
day. The morning was foggy, the entire day was cold, but we had a fun
tour. This picture is taken with "the long lens", and then digitally
zoomed to get me close enough that you can see it The water is very
shallow, and this was as close as we could get the boat.
Building started in 1892 and the light was lit October 10, 1892. The
light was deemed obsolete in 1928. Private owners are responsible for
most of the renovations to date. |
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Whiskey Point (MI 74)
(Beaver Island, St. James Harbor)
May 7, 2005
latitude 45º 44' 33" N longitude 85º 30' 31.7" W
This harbor was originally established for emergency use in
a nasty storm. Thus the lighthouse was a natural. Currently,
this is the harbor that is used by the Beaver Island ferry, so the light is
still active for navigation. |
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Beaver Island South (MI 73)
May 7, 2005
latitude 45º 34' 38.3" N longitude 85º 34'
34.7" W
You can see this light by taking the Beaver Island
Ferry (which accepts your car) and driving to it. We took this
picture from a GLLKA tour (which happened to have chartered the Beaver Island Ferry
boat as it's method of transportation).
Built in 1852,
then the tower was rebuilt in 1858. It was decommissioned in 1962
and currently is an environmental education center. |
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Ile Aux Galets (Skillagalee)
(MI 75)
You need a boat to get here. It's about 6 miles (of water) from
Wilderness State Park.
Photo courtesy Dave Wobster [boatnerd]
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| 9 |
South Fox Island
(MI 72)
May 7, 2005
latitude 45º 22' 47.3" N longitude 85º 50' 10" W
This light (and below) are abandoned, but as you can see, in good
condition.
Built in 1867 and the light was first lit November 1, 1867.
The white paint over the yellow brick was first put on in 1910. |
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New South Fox Island (MI 72A)
May 7, 2005
This structure was imported from Darien Georgia in
1934 after the light above was shut down. However, at this time, it also is
shut down. This new light is on the left corner of the island, as you
are facing the light shown above.
(If the weather looks poor, then you begin to understand the
situation. This light was basically invisible. Only digital
image correction allows you to see it.)
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10 |
Little Traverse (Harbor Point) (MI 71)
latitude 45° 25' 7.7" N longitude 84° 58'
41.5" W
Take US-31 to downtown Petoskey, and turn
off at the entrance to the municipal marina, where there are plenty of
parking spaces. If you do not have your own boat, the only way to obtain
offshore views of the station will be by hiring a charter fishing boat
to take you out to the Point. Note that it is
impossible to gain access to the station from the land, as there is only
one road leading out to the Point, and it passes right through the
guarded entrance to the gated community of Harbor Springs.
Photo may be purchased from
Marinas.com |
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Petoskey West Pier Head (MI 70A)
May 7, 2005
latitude 45º 22' 48" N longitude 84º 57'
41.8" W
Nothing very fancy, just "a sewer pipe on a base".
Terminology not original, and not mine |
| 12 |
Charlevoix South Pier Head (MI 70)
May 7, 2005
latitude 45º 19' 14.9" N longitude 85º 15'
53.3" W
The light itself is not very pretty, but this
shot taken Friday evening just after sunset is really rather nice.
The sunset Saturday night was even prettier, but doesn't show the
lighthouse as well |
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Old Mission Point
(MI 69)
November 9, 2001
latitude 44º 59' 28" N longitude 85º 28' 46.6" W
This was a private residence, but is now open. M-37 runs right up
the peninsula from Traverse City ending at the lighthouse parking lot.
Volunteer keeper reservations are being accepted for 2009. |
| 14 |
Grand Traverse (MI 68)
November 9, 2001
This is a museum May to October (so I didn't see it
today). Looks very interesting and worth the :30 drive up from
Traverse City
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North
Manitou Shoal (MI 67)
This light is best
seen from a boat. Manitou
Island Transit offers ferry service and day trips to South Manitou
Island from Leland, and a distant view of North Manitou Shoal Light is
possible from the ferry.
Photo may be purchased from
Marinas.com |
| 16 |
South Manitou Island
(MI 66)
latitude 45° 0' 27.9" N
longitude 86° 5' 36.6" W
The South Manitou Island Lighthouse is the most familiar landmark on the
island and is clearly visible from the mainland. The 100 foot lighthouse
tower, active from 1871 to 1958, marked the location of the only natural
harbor between here and Chicago.
Photo courtesy Geoffrey George [wikipedia]
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Manning Memorial Lighthouse (MI 65B)
10/18/2001
latitude 44° 48' 51.3" N longitude 86° 4'
2.4" W
Built to honor a long time resident of Empire, this is still a
beautiful location even if not a real aid to navigation. |
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18 |
Point Betsie (MI 65)
October 18, 2001
This is now the residence for Coast Guard personnel, but
you get a good view from the beach anyway.
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Frankfort North Breakwater
(MI 64)
latitude 44° 37' 50.2" N longitude 86° 15' 7.9" W
October 18, 2001
As you can see, the wind was blowing pretty hard on the lake, so this
picture was taken with the telephoto lens instead of getting close to the
lighthouse.
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| 19.1 |
Frankfort South Breakwater (MI 64A)
latitude 44° 37' 44.7" N longitude 86° 15' 5.8" W
October 18, 2001
While only a "sewer pipe" lighthouse, the water
breaking over the breakwater makes a really neat sight. |
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Manistee North Pierhead
(MI 63)
October 18, 2001
latitude 44° 15' 7.5" N longitude 86° 20'
46.9" W
A simple light at the end of the
breakwater, nothing fancy, but workable is the rule. |
| 20.5 |
Manistee, South Breakwater (MI 62S)
October 18, 2001
latitude 44° 15' 4" N longitude 86° 20' 58.6" W
Looks amazing like Frankfort doesn't it? |
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22 |
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Big Sable (MI 62)
July 14, 2006
latitude 44° 3' 27.7" N longitude 86° 30' 52.2" W
Built in 1867, this is a very impressive lighthouse, well isolated (2 mile walk from
the nearest road). Note the large house managers home - this looks
like it might even have been a duplex. |
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23 |
Ludington Harbor Light (MI 61)
June 9, 2004
latitude 43° 57' 13.3" N longitude 86° 28' 8" W
Like Manistee, this is a simple light showing the end of
the breakwater. However, unlike Manistee, this one looks like it has
a terminal case of the uglies.
(Such is life.) |
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