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Tell Them You Found Them in the Enchanted Forest Guide to Northern Michigan
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Alcona County - Lighthouses
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Sturgeon Point Light Station, P.O Box 174, Harrisville, MI 48740. Phone: (989) 724-6297. The Sturgeon Point Light Station is a lighthouse on Lake Huron in Alcona County, northeastern lower Michigan. Established to ward mariners off of a reef that extends 1.5 miles lakeward from Sturgeon Point, it is today regarded as a historic example of a Great Lakes lighthouse. The light station was built in 1869 of brick masonry on a limestone foundation. The tower stands 70 feet 9 inches in height, with a diameter of 16 feet at the base. The adjoining, two-story keeper’s quarters was designed in the Cape Cod style and built of the same materials. The light began its service with a sixth-order Fresnel lens which was upgraded to a 3.5-order lens (which had been originally installed at Oswego, New York twenty years later. In 1876, the light station was joined in its service by an adjacent United States Life-Saving Service station.] By the 1940s, the light was fully automated, and the Coast Guard withdrew all personnel and dismantled the life-saving station. The light station is a registered National Historical Landmark. Ownership was transferred from the Coast Guard to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources under the terms of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, and operations are maintained by the Alcona County Historical Society. The lighthouse is maintained and operated by the Alcona Historical Society, which is a private organization that funds the maintenance and operation with few public funds. The Society is in the process of raising contributions to renovate and paint the lighthouse. The tower is regularly open during the summer for climbing by the public (for a small fee to cover insurance costs). The museum is open to the public, and is supported by donations.
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Alger County - Lighthouses
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AuSable Light Station
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Grand Island East Channel Light
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Grand Island Harbor Rear Range Light Station
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Grand Island North Light
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Grand Marais Harbor Inner Range Light Station, Grand Marais, Michigan. Grand Marais Harbor Range Light was built in 1908 and is still active. The Two story brick keeper dwelling is now a museum highlighting the history of the light and shipping in the area. The original lens will be used on the light when renovations are complete. The lighthouse is open for tours from July to September. Directions: From the intersection of M-77 and H-58 in Grand Marais follow C-702 north to beach head and light.
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Grand Marais Habror Outer Range Light Station
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Munising Front Range Light
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Munising Rear Range Light
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Baraga County - Lighthouses
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Sand Point Light Station
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Benzie County - Lighthouses
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Point Betsie Lighthouse, 3071 Pt. Betsie Road, 4 mi North of Frankfort, Frankfort, MI 49635, Phone: (231)352-7666. This oldest standing structure in Benzie County, built in 1858, marks the all-important entrance to southern end of the Manitou Passage, a once-vital maritime shipping channel. Although the lane is no longer used by large commercial vessels, the operating light signal remains a US Coast Guard aid to navigation to this day, and the site shines as a treasured landmark to mariners and landlubbers alike. Because the USCG automated the light in 1983 and subsequently vacated the buildings in 1996, by 2004 it was possible to transfer title to Benzie County who, in turn, leased the site to the all-volunteer organization, Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse, Inc. In a strong partnership, the County and the Friends have set about renovating the deteriorating buildings. By 2006, they had completed a nearly $1 M exterior restoration phase. Further work continues on a barrier-free access, the Fog/Signal structure, and the interiors of both major buildings. The site has been open for tours and gift shopping, primarily on weekends from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, since 2002. The public beach adjacent to the site is easily accessed, although roadside parking is problematic and there are no public facilities available until reaching Frankfort, 4 mi south, or Platte River, 8 mi north, on M-22. Encouraged to visit are lighthouse aficionados, students of history, and lovers of the beautiful natural setting Pt. Betsie offers.
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Chippewa County - Lighthouses
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De Tour Reef Light Station, De TouVillage, Michigan. Built in 1931, the Detour Reef Light is fully operational. Light stands 74 ft high and has an attached two-story house. Directions: I-75 to 134 East to Detour Village, south of village to Bennet Point, lighthouse is .5 mile off shore.
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Martin Reef Light Station
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Mission Point Light Station
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Pipe Island Light Station
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Point Iroquois Light Station. Brimley, Michigan. Point Iroquois Lighthouse was built in 1871 and stayed in operation until 1971. There is a massive 65 foot brick tower with an attached 2 story house. The lighthouse is completely restored. The house is a museum, and it is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Directions: North of Brimley via Lake Shore Drive to Point Iroquois and Lighthouse at the St. Mary's River entrance.
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Round Island Light Station - Raber,.Michigan. Built in 1892, Round Island Light is now a private residence. The owners have completely remodeled and renovated the premises. Light is only accessible by boat. Directions: I-75 to M-134 east. Follow M-134 16 miles to M-129 north. Take M-129 2 miles to Swede road east, follow Swede Road to M-48 east for 10 miles to North Raber Road North to Lighthouse.
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Whiefish Point Light Station. Whitefish Point, Michigan. Built in 1847, Whitefish Point Light Station was the first light on Lake Superior. It is the loccation of tragic shipwreck of Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975. A beautiful steel skeleton structure with a massive two story house attached. The Keeper's dwelling is a museum highlighting famous Great Lake Shipwrecks. Directions: Co Rd 123 north through Tahquamenon Falls State Park to Whitefish Point State Park.
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Delta County - Lighthouses
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Peninsula Point Light Station
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Sand Point Light Station
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Houghton County - Lighthouses
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Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light Station
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Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light Station
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Portage River Light Station
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Keweenaw County - Lighthouses
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Copper Harbor Front Range
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Copper Harbor Light Station
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Copper Harbor Rear Range
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Eagle Harbor Light Station
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Eagle Harbor Rear Range
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Eagle River Light Station
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Gull Rock Light Station
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Isle Royale Light Station
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Maniton Island Light Station
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Mendota Light Station
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Passage Island Light Station
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Rock of Ages Light Station
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Rock Harbor Light Station
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Sand Hills Lighthouse
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Luce County - Lighthouses
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Crisp Point Light Station - Whitefish Point, Michigan. Built in 1904, the 58 ft brick tower now stands alone. At one time was surrounded by Light keeper's quarters and other outbuildings that have since been torn down or washed away by the water. The tower itself is in jeopardy of the same fate, volunteers are working to preserve the light by placing temporary breakwalls to limit the erosion and preserve the light. Directions: Co Rd 412 to Crisp Point in the Upper Peninsula 15 miles west of Whitefish Point. This lighthouse is privately owned but the public is allowed to visit.
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Mackinac County - Lighthouses
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Round Island Light Station
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Round Island Passage Light
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St. Helena Island Light
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White Shoal Light Station
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Marquette County - Lighthouses
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Big Bay Point Light Station
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Granite Island Light Station
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Huron Island Light Station
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Marquette Breakwater Outer Light Station
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Marquette Harbor Light Station
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Preque Isle Breakwater Light
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Stannard Rock Light Station
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Menominee County - Lighthouses
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Menominee North Pier Light Station
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Ontonagon County - Lighthouses
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Fourteen-Mile Point Light
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Ontonagon Harbor West Pierhead
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Ontonagon Light Station
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Schoolcraft County - Lighthouses
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Manistique East Breakwater Light Station
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Seul Choix Pointe Light Station
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Beaver Head Lighthouse, Beaver Island Southern tip, Beaver Island, MI 49782, Phone: (231) 448-2505
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Charlevoix South Pier Light, Grant Street (DNR Office), Charlevoix, MI 49720, Phone: (231) 547-0373.
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Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, M 201 (north of M22), Leelanau State Park, Northport, MI 49670, Phone: (231) 386-7195
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New Presque Isle Lighthouse Park and Museum, 4500 East Grand Lake Road, Presque Isle, MI 49777, Phone: (989) 595-5419. The Presque Isle Light Station includes three historic buildings. The light tower, which connects to the keeper’s dwelling, was built in 1870 and is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible to the public on the Great Lakes. Visitors may climb the 130 steps to the top of the tower for a nominal fee. An unattached keeper’s residence, constructed in 1905, has been painstakingly restored and now serves as a museum. The buildings are situated on a 99-acre township park, featuring in playground and picnic area. The buildings and grounds are open to the public from mid-May to Mid October, from 9 am to 6 pm daily. The 1905 House is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 11 am to 5 pm, Tueday through Saturday, 1 pm to 5 pm Sunday. closed Mondays.
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Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, 5295 E. Grand Lake Road, Presque Isle, MI 49777, Phone: (989) 595-69679, The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is on of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes. Built in 1840 by Jeremial Moors of Detroit, the harbor light opertated until 1871 when the light keeper transferred to the new taller coatal lighthouse a mile north. Visitors can climb the hand-hewn stone steps of the thirty foot tall tower for a panoramic view to the Lake Huron shoreline and Presque Isle Harbor. The keeper’s dwelling serves as a hands-on museum. Here visitors can blow fog horns and examine other artifacts. The buildings and park grounds are open to the public daily, from 9 am to 6 pm, mid[-May through mid-October. A nominal fee is charged for climbing the tower.
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Squaw Island Light, Squaw Island Light, Beaver Island, MI 49782, Phone: (231) 448-2505
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Sturgeon Point Lighthouse & Museum, Alcona Historical Society, P.O. Box 174, Harrisville, MI 48740, Phone: (989) 724-6297. In 1876 the U. S. Life Saving Service established a Life Saving Station just south of Sturgeon Point Lighthouse. This station provided around-the-clock rescue capability for vessels in distress. With the formation of the U. S. Coast Guard in 1915, Sturgeon Point became a Coast Guard station. The lighthouse was electrified and automated in 1939 and the last personnel left in 1941. The Coast Guard buildings were subsequently destroyed, however, the the lighthouse itself survived but was severely vandalized. In 1982 the Alcona Historical Society leased the lighthouse and began a three - year restoration project. The interior of the keeper's house was completely restored, and the buildings were painted. Almost all of the work was done by volunteers. The lighthouse and keeper's house are of masonry construction on a limestone block foundation. The tower is 70 feet, 9 inches tall and is 16 feet in diameter at its base. The light is a 3.5 order Fresnel lens made in Paris, France. The light apparatus is still maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. The keeper's house is now a maritime museum which is open to the public seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend. The lighthouse tower is open to the public. The grounds are open all year.
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Tawas Point Lighthouse, 686 Tawas Beach Road, East Tawas, MI 48730, Phone: (989) 362-5041
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Waugoshance Light [Lighthouse], Waugoshance Light, Cross Village, MI 49723, Phone: (800) 828-6157
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Whiskey Point Light, Harbor on northern end, Beaver Island, MI 49782, Phone: (231) 448-2505
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Lighthouse Preservation Groups
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Alcona Historical Society, P.O. Box 174, Harrisville, MI 48740, Phone: (989) 724-6297
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