Category Archives: Lighthouses

Keeping The South Haven Lighthouse Illuminated

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses .

south haven ligthhouse f

 

One of South Haven’s first keepers was James S. Donahue, a veteran of the Civil War. After being shot in battle one of his legs was amputated. He requested a job with the lighthouse service, and to convince him to find employment elsewhere, they gave him the job of keeper at South Haven. They figured he would grow tired of walking out to the end of the pier to maintain the light. He did the job for over 35 years and made it to the light every night regardless of the weather and Lake Michigan storms.

The current light at the end of the south pier was built in 1903, the red steel structure, originally painted white, replaced the old wooden light that could not withstand the pounding of Lake Michigan’s unforgiving waves. I can only imagine the relentless storms coming off the lake in winter for over a 100 years, trying to take down this mighty beacon of hope, but it still remains resolute in its mission of guiding sailors and ships into South Haven. If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses .

Completed in 1858 the Point Betsie Lighthouse, north of Frankfort, is the oldest building in Benzie County. Standing along the shores of Lake Michigan marking the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage. In 1875 one of the first life saving stations was established by the U. S. Life Saving Service at the lighthouse. This was the last manned lighthouse on Lake Michigan, and the last Michigan lighthouse to lose its keeper after it was automated in 1982. It is a unique looking lighthouse with its red gambrel roof and green trim.
If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

St. Joseph Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses .

The range lights of the St Joseph pier lights illuminating the darkness. They were constructed in 1907 and by 2008 they were deemed excess by the Coast Guard and given to the city of St. Joseph. Nearly 2 million dollars was raised to restore the front and rear towers.

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

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

A Christmas Light

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

This iron conical tower light stands in the trees along M-28 not far from the town of Christmas. It replaced the wooden lighthouse that was moved to Munising in 1914. I have driven the stretch on M-28 along the Lake Superior shoreline a few times. I knew this tower was located somewhere east of Christmas but I missed it because you can’t see it from the road hidden in the trees. There is an overgrown two-track that leads to it but you have to know where to find it. It is not an overly impressive lighthouse but it is one of the tallest iron tower navigational lights on the Great Lakes.

It has been decommissioned for a while and I am not sure who owns it, But it would be a nice location for a park. Being so close to the town of Christmas I think it should be painted Red White and Green and decorated in a Christmas theme. It would make for a nice place to stop along Lake Superior but unless you know about it many people just zoom on by without stopping.

P.S. I am not sure if the tower has a working light anymore but I ” turned it on ” in photoshop since I don’t like seeing a lighthouse without a hopeful beacon shining.

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

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

Crisp Point Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

Crisp Point Lighthouse stands along a remote and wooded section of the Lake Superior Shoreline. It is about 15 miles west of the Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Crisp Point Lighthouse was built in 1903 and decommissioned in 1993 and is now the property of Luce County and maintained by the Crisp Point Light Historical Society. The roads to the lighthouse are not plowed in the winter so the summer months are the best time to visit it. If you are looking to get away from the crowds at the Tahquamenon Falls take a trip out to this secluded location. It is also a great beach to go rock hunting while you are there.

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

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

 

South Haven Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses .

The South Haven Lighthouse shines a bright red light for sailors to find their way into the harbor at night. The steel tower at the end of the pier was constructed in 1902 and replaced a wooden one. It was originally painted white but changed to red. I assume to make it look different than the nearby St Joseph Lighthouse which has a similar construction.

Keeper James S. Donahue was a veteran of the Civil War. After being shot in battle one of his legs was amputated. He requested a job with the lighthouse service and to convince him to find employment elsewhere they gave him the job of keeper at South Haven. They figured he would grow tired of walking out to the end of the pier to maintain the light. He did the job for over 35 years and made it to the light every night regardless of the weather and Lake Michigan storms. If you love lighthouses I hope you will take a look at my new Lighthouse book HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in autumn, Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

I always enjoy the drive along the Lake Superior shoreline from Brimley to Paradise. One of my favorite stops is the historic Point Iroquois Lighthouse. It was built in 1870 and is now a museum in the summer months. The grounds are open all year and it is a beautiful place to stop and take a walk on the boardwalk and watch the ships heading to and from the Soo Locks.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

 

The Gladstone Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

The Gladstone Lighthouse welcomes boats into the Gladstone Harbor on Lake Michigan. Gladstone is on the south side of the Upper Peninsula near Escanaba. The lighthouse was built in 2010 when upgrades were made to Van Cleve Park. The park is a wonderful place to stop on a road trip along US-2 and while you are there you can check out one of Michigan’s newest lighthouses.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

Point Iroquois Lighthouse stands along Lake Superior between Whitefish Point and Brimley. The lighthouse was constructed in 1870 and deactivated in 1962. It now operates as a museum in the summer months. While most tourists visit Whitefish Point Lighthouse this historic beacon is worth visiting and it is a beautiful drive along the Lake Superior shoreline from Paradise to Brimley.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read

The Butterfly Lighthouse

Posted on by Posted in Lighthouses, upper peninsula .

If you are in the Upper Peninsula in the early fall you may get to witness one of nature’s wonders. The Monarch Butterfly migrates 1,900-miles south to their wintering grounds in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. Usually, around September thousands of Monarchs gather around the remains of the old Peninsula Lighthouse at the tip of the Stonington Peninsula.

It is one of only a very few places in North America where monarchs can be viewed migrating in great numbers while they wait for favorable weather conditions. Since tagging began in the mid-1990s, monarchs tagged at Peninsula Point have been found in El Rosario, Mexico, almost 2,000 miles from the Stonington Peninsula. Monarchs use a combination of air currents and thermals to travel long distances. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach their winter home. If you want to know more about the lighthouse you see my post about it HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did. 

enter your email address, I promise I won't send you any spam, it's just an automated email that lets you know there is a new post to read