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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I visited Point Aux Barques Lighthouse at the tip of the Thumb last summer. It has been a while since I had seen it. I saw the old Life Saving buildings nearby and took some pics. I did not think to much about it at the time but I did not remember them being there when I visited a few years ago.

I came across the pics from last summer and then it reminded me to check into the old USLSS buildings. I thought maybe I was loosing my mind not remembering the old buildings but the were actually moved to their current location a few years ago. The historic buildings built in 1875 were moved in 1960 to the Huron City Museum to save them from demolition. They were recently moved back to the lighthouse and are undergoing renovations to be used as a museum. Only a few stations of the 1875-style were built in the United States and it is wonderful that this one in the Thumb is being saved.

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On the south side of the Holland Chanel is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Michigan. The 1907 building was built as a fog signal building only. The light stood adjacent to it as a separate structure until 1936 when the Coast Guard consolidated the two by putting a light tower on top of the fog signal. In 1956 the tan colored building was sandblasted and painted red and was affectionately given the nickname of “Big Red”

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Grays Reef is in northern Lake Michigan near the entrance to the Straits Of Mackinac. It was marked by a lightship until 1937 when this lighthouse was completed. It was manned by a crew of four men and one night in May of 1965 they were startled by a large thump when the freighter J.E. Upson had crashed into the lighthouse in dense fog. It did little damage to the lighthouse but the ships bow was split open and taking on water. Luckly the ship made it to Mackinaw City before sinking. In 1976 the crew was removed for the winter for the final time and the light was automated and has been sitting in Lake Michigan alone.

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