The Lighthouses of Southern Lake Michigan

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This portion of Lake Michigan serves as the home page for the Lake showing the southern edge (but then for a significant part of the surrounding population, that is the entire lake). Downloadable pictures are available on the Web. The lights of Lake Michigan are numbered clockwise from the very North (see that page) down the western shore, through Chicago and up the Eastern Shore.

Note the links above to the rest of the pages. Note also a link to a Google Map (interactive, and you can see the ground if you choose (and they have the pictures at the necessary resolution)). The pictures below are "live", if you click on one it will take you to a webshots photo of that same light.

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Little Sable (MI 59)
December 1, 2001

Located on the Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan, this has to be about as desolate as you can get.

If you're trying to get there, go to the Silver Lake State Park, then follow the signs to the lighthouse. Pay your parking fee and climb over the dunes. (If it looks cold, you understand well.)

White River (MI 58)
December 1, 2001
latitude 43º 22' 27.5" N longitude 86º 25' 30" W

Located at the mouth of White River (which is important because White Lake is about 100 feet from Lake Michigan, and makes a really slick harbor for small boats.)

It was inactive when we visited, but has a museum open during the "tourist" season.

Muskegon South Pierhead (MI 56)
July 15, 2006
latitude 43º 13' 35.9" N longitude 86º 20' 29.3" W

It looks like you can't really get to the light because there is a fully occupied Coast Guard Station at the base of the pier. However, you can cut through the AOP research center just west of the coast guard and walk right out the pier. Note how from the pier, you also can see the light below directly lined up.

26.3

Muskegon South Breakwater (MI 57)
July 15, 2006
latitude 43º 13' 26.8" N longitude 86º 20' 49.2" W

Well off the pier there's a breakwater (which the adventurous can walk out on, but we didn't, so this photo is taken the long lens). On the tip of the breakwater is another light, which may or not intentionally, but in reality, is a range light with the light shown above. It's about the same size, but clearly much newer.

26.6

Muskegon North Breakwater (MI 56A)
July 15, 2006
latitude 43º 13'31.7" N longitude 86º 20' 53.6" W

And on the other side of the opening in the breakwater is another light. This one is the simple "drain pipe" design.

Grand Haven (MI 54,55)
March 29, 2002
latitude 43º 3' 24.1" N longitude 86º 15' 21.6" W outer
latitude 43º 3' 26.2 "N longitude 86º 15' 1.8" W inner

This is another pair of lights with an outer range light and an inner range light. In this case, they are even of different construction materials with grossly different appearance.

(I'm assuming you can see both of them through the fog!)

Holland "Big Red" (MI 53)
March 29, 2002
latitude 42º 46' 19.9" N longitude 86º 12' 39.2" W

The attached building was built to run the fog horn. As you can see, they should have been running it the day we saw the lighthouse.

South Haven (MI 51)
March 29, 2002
latitude 42º 24' 5" N longitude 86º 17' 16.8" W

The cast iron lighthouse is connected by both a pier and an upper walkway. The upper walkway no longer has any plates on it, so it would be hard to use. As you can see, the waves today don't require it anyway.

St. Joseph Pier Light(s) (MI 49,50)
September 30, 2000
latitude 42º 6' 58.9 "N longitude 86º 29' 41.1" W outer
latitude 42º 6' 57.9 "N longitude 86º 29' 36.9" W inner

Note that this is actually 2 lights set on a pier to provide a "front range" "rear range" combination. Note also the catwalk provided so that even when the pier is awash, the Coast Guard can get to the light (not that I'd want to walk out there in that kind of weather).

St. Joseph Lighthouse Depot (MI 49A)
March 29, 2002

As you can see, this is not a lighthouse, in fact, at the time we recorded this photo, it was a lighthouse restaurant/microbrewery that was for sale. It was a supply, storage, replenishment depot for the lighthouse service until 1917.

31.5

I-94 Welcome Center (MI 49W )
November 17, 2007
latitude 41º 45' 54.3" N longitude 86º 44' 29.7" W

Clearly a faux light as there's no navigable water for miles. The sign next to it says "In Michigan, we'll leave a lighthouse on for you."

Old Michigan City (IN 4)
December 30, 2006
latitude 41º 43' 21.8" N longitude 86º 54' 21.8" W

This is actually the second lighthouse in Michigan City (the third is below.) It is set well off the water way (more than 1000' I would estimate). It is now an active museum.

Michigan City (IN 5,6)
12/30/2006
latitude 41º 43' 44.4" N longitude 86º 54' 42.1" W
latitude 41º 43' 47.3" N longitude 86º 54' 50" W

It looks like they have done double duty with the front light. It marks the far side of the channel for boats that are in close. It provides a front range light for boats well out in the lake.

33.3

Burns Waterway East Jetty Lights

These lights can be seen from the Coastal Park, but there is no trail to get you from Highway 12 to them, so the getting over the dunes is tough going.

There appears to be a public harbor in Burns that could be used to put a boat into the water if you wish to see this light and the lights below.

33.6

Gary Harbor Bulkhead light (IN3A)
December 30, 2006
latitude 41º 37' 49.4" N longitude 87º 19' 12.4" W

Turn north on Lake Street in Miller IN and cut through the Coastal Park to Marquette Park. You can then walk across the shore to see this spot

Gary Breakwater (IN 3)

As the area surrounding the pier is industrial and private, the Gary Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse is best seen from the water.

Buffington Breakwater (IN 2)
December 30, 2006
latitude 41º 38' 45.7" N longitude 87º 24' 37.1" W

We took a tour through this area and were able to get close to only 2 lights. This photo was taken from the shoreline behind the Majestic Star Casino. The weather was ugly, so it has been significantly digitally enhanced.

Indiana Harbor E. Breakwater (IN 1)
latitude 41º 40' 51"N
longitude 87º 26' 27.8" W

Due to the private, industrial area surrounding the breakwater, the Indiana Harbor Lighthouse is best seen from the water. One can visit this light with Coho Magic Charters out of Robert A. Pastrick Marina in East Chicago, IN.

Chicago Harbor (IL 3)
June 12, 2004
latitude 41º 53' 21.6" N longitude 87º 35' 26"W

This is an active Coast Guard Installation and no public access is allowed. The light was built in 1893, but moved to this location in 1917. (Our tour boat said it was built in Seattle, and moved here for the 1933 World's Fair, but I believe the other account better.) You can see it from the Navy pier, but the harbor tours go even closer.

Chicago Harbor's Southeast Guide wall (IL 4)
June 12, 2004
latitude 41º 53' 23.5" N longitude 87º 35' 59" W

Built in 1938, this light is right next to the Navy Pier.

38.3	This lighthouse can be seen distantly from Calumet Park, but is best seen from the water. To reach the park, take Exit 62 from I-94 South of Chicago and go east for five miles on 95th Street (Highway 12/20) to the park.	Calumet Harbor, demolished, 1995 (IL 5)
38.6	Calumet Harbor Breakwater South End (IL 6)	demolished in 1995 latitude 41º 43' 33.9" N longitude 87º 29' 36.2" W

Grosse Point (Evanston) (IL 2)
August 2, 2003
latitude 42º 3' 50" N longitude 87º 40' 33.6" W

Built in 1873, this lighthouse has a very impressive "keepers" house at the end of a street filled with impressive faculty houses (from Northwestern people one assumes). It now is an active museum with the original 2^nd order Fresnel lens still in place an operated by the city of Evanston.

Waukegan Harbor (Little Fort) (IL 1)
August 2, 2003
latitude 42º 21' 38.4" N longitude 87º 48' 48.2" W

This might have been more interesting when the original lantern room was present, but I suspect not. As you can see, it now has an automated light on top of the original base. Its at the end of a pier that's about 30 miles long (well, ... maybe about ½ mile) directly out from the Waukegan Yacht club.

Kenosha (Southport) (WI 45)
August 2, 2003
latitude 42º 35' 22.2" N longitude 87º 48' 57.6" W

At the time this lighthouse was built in 1866, this place was known as Southport. It was the first light a boat from Chicago would see in Wisconsin and was originally equipped with a 4^th order Fresnel lens (which if you remember, is not really a lens, but a whole cluster of prisms that act like a single lens)

41.1

Kevich (WI 46)
latitude 43º 19' 24.7" N longitude 87º 53' 18.3" W

Privately built by the Kevich family, this lighthouse has the highest focal plane of any active U.S. Great Lakes lighthouse; Boyer Bluff Light (above) is the only higher navigational aid on Lake Michigan. Located atop a high bluff on Lakeshore Road a short distance north of Ulao Road, in the town of Grafton, about 4 miles south of Port Washington.

Photo courtesy Ann Stibor [Flickr]

Kenosha North Pier (WI 44)
August 2, 2003
latitude 42º 35' 19.8" N longitude 87º 48' 31"W

Just like the picture below, you can't really get to this lighthouse, but you can get to a point right across the channel.

Racine North Breakwater (WI 43)
August 2, 2003
latitude 42º 44' 4.7" N longitude 87º 46' 19.3" W

You really can't see this from the breakwater, but there's a really slick parking spot just across the channel, and then this boat nicely came in to improve the picture.

Wind Point (Racine) (WI 42)
September 29, 2000
latitude 42º 46' 52.7" N longitude 87º 45' 32.4" W

Another of the classic "Poe" style lights, it is similar to Grosse Point. Interestingly enough, it now serves as the village hall and police department.

Milwaukee Pierhead (WI 40)
June 11, 2004
latitude 43º 1' 33.4" N longitude 87º 53' 43.4" W

Its very hard to get to this light, they've buried it behind a very nice stage and are burying it next to some very nice condos. But, once you get here, there's good parking and a nice view. In the distance, you can see the light shown below.

Milwaukee Breakwater (WI 41)
June 11, 2004
latitude 43º 1' 37.2" N longitude 87º 52' 55.3" W

Theoretically only accessible by boat, but, if the weather's fine, and you have a long lens, you can see this from the pierhead shown above. (On our previous visit, you could not see across the harbor, so it's not that close, but close enough.)

North Point (Milwaukee) (WI 39)
June 11, 2004
latitude 43º 3' 56.1" N longitude 87º 52' 17" W

This is another light that's hard to find. Our directions said only "go north from Milwaukee 3 miles". The second time around, we found it easier, but ... Note carefully the break about 1/2 way up the light. First built 30' tall, the trees got too big. So rather than cut the trees, they put another 35' underneath the tower. This light house is in Lake Park, to the right of the bowling (lawn bowling) greens.

If you would like copies of any of my pictures, contact me and we'll discuss arrangements. There are others who do this commercially, I have no intention of competing directly, but you can make a proposal, and I'll react.

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