Michigan Lights - Grand Haven and Muskegon

Grand Haven Lights, Grand Haven Michigan
9/18/2017      dwm photo

At the time we visited Grand Haven, Michigan, the lakefront seemed to be under construction.

The State Park was undergoing renovations.  I couldn't tell what they were, but I could cross a barrier and road before a front-end loader moved another load of dirt from one place to the next.

The lot for the park seemed like the best place to park, but it was a long way from the pier.  I brought my tripod, and after walking a fair distance, set up to take my shots.

South Pier Inner Light at Grand Haven
9/18/2017  dwm

Until I sat down to write this blog, I didn't know the pier for the lighthouse is also under repair.  The repairs to the pier meant the catwalk had to be removed.  They hope to restore it next year.

The lighthouse friends webpage has a photo of the pierhead and inner pier light connected by the walk from the furthest light back to shore.

While shooting, I noticed the lighthouse was tilted a bit.  I suppose that is a reason for the repairs, but it seemed strange at the time.

But this was only the fifth stop of the day, and there were five to go; so after snapping several photos we were on our way to Muskegon.

Muskegon South Pier Light. 
Notice the far breakwater light just left of the lighthouse.
9/18/17  dwm photo

Fifteen miles north, we found Muskegon's South Pier light.

Now, lighthouses guide ships into port or into the mouth of a river; which means getting to them can take some effort.

In 1925, an arrowhead harbor entrance was designed.  The South Pier Light guards the channel inside the arrowhead formed by angled piers on either side.

The red light is the second lighthouse, built in 1903.  Two smaller breakwater lights guide ships into the harbor from Lake Michigan.

The breakwater light is far right as
the South Pier light shows the way.
dwm photo

I was beginning to notice the color schemes of the lighthouses.  Not all were the same color, but there were some trends.

The lights in Grand Haven and Muskegon were deep red - which make them visible off shore during bright sunny days and during the darkest night.

The color, style, and location combine to give the light its personality.  Grand Haven was missing some of its style with the catwalks in storage, but it is easy to see why these lights become icons for their port cities.