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.

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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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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 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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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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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.

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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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