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Category Archives: Lighthouses

McGulpin Point

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

mcgulpin point lighthouse

The McGulpin Point Light, a true lighthouse with a light tower and attached lighthouse keeper’s living quarters, was completed by the United States Lighthouse Board in 1869 at a cost of $20,000. The living quarters were built as a vernacular 11⁄2-story brick structure. The lighthouse operated during the Great Lakes navigation seasons from 1869 until 1906.

The design was so successful that the Lighthouse Board chose to use this 1868 design in the construction of Eagle Harbor Light in 1871; White River Light in 1875; and Sand Island Light in 1881. It is a “mirror image of the design” used at Chambers Island Light and Eagle Bluff light. The design is sometimes called “Norman Gothic” style

James Davenport was the only lighthouse keeper at this light, and served for 27 years. Correspondence files in the National Archives in Washington show that Davenport made weekly trips through the snow to the lighthouse to report on its condition to the District Inspector in Milwaukee. Perhaps more importantly, these letters also show that he may have played a critical role in the opening of navigation every spring by reporting weekly, and sometimes even more frequently, on ice conditions in the Straits. Because Davenport was the only Straits keeper to submit such frequent reports, it would appear that the Inspector used these reports to gain an understanding as to when navigation would be open throughout the lakes.

In 1906, the McGulpin Point Light was deactivated and privatized due to the Lighthouse Board’s judgment that the nearby Old Mackinac Point Light was performing an adequate job of marking the Straits of Mackinac.[9] At some point after deactivation, the lighthouse tower’s lantern room was removed, and the building passed into private ownership. The building then entered service as a private residence

In 2005 the Lighthouse was put up for sale and Emmet County purchased it, now the light is open for tours. It’s a couple miles west of Mackinaw City,  I have been to the top of the tower, and I will say, it has a spectacular view of the straights and the bridge.

If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

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A Mysterious Death at Grand Island

Posted on December 10, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .


Grand Island is in Lake Superior not far from the town of Munising. The old Grand Island Lighthouse sits on the northern edge of the island on a tall cliff overlooking Lake Superior.

The lighthouse was constructed in 1866 to replace an old decrepit light that was built in 1844. In 1961 a metal post with a battery operated light replaced the lighthouse and it was decommissioned. Dr. Loren Graham, a history professor at Harvard, and his wife Patrica a historian and dean at Harvard purchased the dilapidated old lighthouse in 1972. While remodeling the old building they found a newspaper with an article about the body of the assistant lighthouse keeper being found in a rowboat floating offshore. Keeper Genry had also disappeared and it was 15 years later that his body was found washed up on shore 20 miles from Munising.  After an investigation, it has never been determined what happened to the two men.

Dr. Graham had researched the men’s mysterious death for 30 years and published a book detailing what he believed had happened to them. It is a fascinating book. In the middle of the book, he digresses into the history of the Upper Peninsula and the Native American culture and European mining immigrants. The book then circles back the death of the two keepers. People’s culture and experiences lead them to believe what happened to the two men. Not only is the book a compelling mystery, but it is also a well written brief history of the Upper Peninsula.  If you are looking for something to read this winter I highly recommend Death at The Lighthouse: A Grand Island Riddle which you can see HERE. I think it has been out of print for a while so you may have to get a copy from your local library if the bookstore does not have it.

P.S. As far as I know, the Lighthouse still remains privately owned. I hope I get the chance to see it someday.

If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

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The Backwards Lighthouse

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

The sun rising on the Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba on a crisp autumn morning. Built in 1867 the lighthouse is a simple design with a square tower. Lighthouse are built with the tower facing the water but Sand Point is unique in that it is on the back side of the building from Lake Michigan. No one knows exactly why it was built the way it was but it is a beautiful little lighthouse.

If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my Lighthouse book HERE

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A Sunny Day at the Lighthouse

Posted on August 27, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

This is the Port Sanilac Lighthouse that stands along Lake Huron in the thumb. I travel a lot in the summer and visit a lot of lighthouses on sunny summer days. I wonder what the Keeper did on calm sunny days at the lighthouse. I am sure they had chores that needed to be completed, but I figure they took a nap on a nice day Since they had to check on the light at night and and maintain the light and fog signal during storms I am sure they looked forward to a nice peaceful day. The lighthouse may not have been as needed on a nice day but it is reassuring to know that it is always there on good days and bad.

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The Last Photo

Posted on August 18, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses, Photography Tips .

Here is the last photo my old camera will ever take. I was at the Grand Travers Lighthouse at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula and I saw the sunlight reflecting off of the glass. I took a couple pics then readjusted my lens hit the shutter and “tink” then it made some strange shutter sounds and the photos were black. I think the shutter or mirror broke.

I had my camera ( canon 5d mark II if you are wondering ) since 2009. I am sure that I have taken more than half a million photos with it and possibly over a million. I took all my photos with it for Lost In Michigan, Lost In The States, Pure Saginaw along with, weddings, senior portraits, tons of sports photos and family memories. It’s kinda like loosing a friend. I think of all the photos that I took and it has gone with me on many adventures. Time for a new camera I guess. I can’t complain the old one lasted a long time and I probably take more photos than most photographers. It may have been my camera’s last photo but I have many more I want to take and hope I am around for a long time to take them.

P.S. I could get my old camera repaired but I will probably cost more to repair it than its worth. I already had it fixed about 5 years ago.

 

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The Red Striped Lighthouse

Posted on August 16, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

This lighthouse with the odd looking red stripes stands in Cheboygan. a few hundred yards behind it is a tower with a light and some red stripes. They are used by sailors when entering the Cheboygan River channel. The range lights and stripes are aligned so the captains know they are in the channel. The lighthouse was constructed in 1880 and and decommissioned in the 2000s.

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The Light In The Storm at Frankfort

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

The light at the end of the north breakwater in Frankfort is rather peculiar looking than your traditional round light tower. The four sided tower used to stand at the end of the pier until the breakwater was constructed in the 1930’s then the tower was moved to the end of the breakwater. Rather than just placing it on the end a two story structure was constructed for the tower to stand on giving it a unique look.

If you’re wondering, yes I got a little wet taking some pics of the lighthouse, or in this case, just the light since the house is gone now. I don’t mind being out in the storm taking pics of lighthouses and to be honest I kind of prefer it. The purpose of a lighthouse is the be there standing tall and resolute no matter how harsh and unkind the weather may be.

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White River Lighthouse

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

The White River Lighthouse is at the mouth of the White River on Lake Michigan near Whitehall. Construction of the lighthouse began on August 28, 1875. It was a common design used on the Great Lakes including, McGulpin Point near Mackinaw City and Eagle Harbor in the Keweenaw.

The lighthouse was deactivated in the 1960s and operates as a museum today. It is a nice place to visit and check out the artifacts and climb the tower when it is open. You may also see the ghost of a former keeper. You can read more about that on my post HERE

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St. Joseph Lighthouse

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

The first lighthouse in St. Joseph was erected in 1832 on the shoreline and was the second lighthouse constructed on Lake Michigan. The current lighthouse was built in the early 1900s. It consisted of two lights known as “Range Lights” that sailors would align to ensure that they were entering straight into the channel. I like visiting these Lake Michigan lighthouses and walking out on the pier. I cant imagine what it must have been like on a stormy day fighting the wind and the waves walking the cat walk to keep the light on.

If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

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Mission Point Lighthouse

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Lighthouses .

After a ship hit the rocks off Mission Point and sank in the 1860’s construction on the Mission Point Lighthouse began. It was not completed until the 1870’s because of the Civil War. The white-sided little lighthouse guided ships around the Grand Traverse Bay until 1938 when an illuminated buoy was placed offshore. The light shining from the lighthouse was no longer needed.  After the lighthouse was deactivated visitors continued to visit the area including the lighthouse. The tip of the point became a park operated by Peninsula Township and you can visit the lighthouse and walk along the shoreline. Its a beautiful drive out the lighthouse from Traverse City through the cherry orchards and wineries.  If you go, don’t forget to stop to the Mission Point General Store not far away on the east side of the point. If you are visiting in the evening be sure to stay for the sunset over the bay and the Leelanau Peninsula. Of all the lighthouses I have visited in Michigan, I think this one is a favorite because of the natural beauty surrounding the lighthouse. Plan on spending some time walking around and enjoying your visit.

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