Michigan City Lights

Michigan City East Pier
Light  9/17/17 (dwm)

Indiana had 92 covered bridges to capture with a camera; Wisconsin has one.

The bridges were a challenge and something to pursue, now that I was in America's Dairyland, what could be my new "bridge?"

Lighthouses!

There are 54 in Wisconsin and more in Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.  Some bridges are off shore and a few are only accessible by air; so I won't get to all of them.  But I can try.

This trip started in Indiana, specifically, Michigan City.

The East Pier Light framed by its catwalk.  (dwm photo)

The first lighthouse in Michigan City was built in 1858, protecting boaters until a replacement was placed on the pier in 1904.

The Old Lighthouse (below) stayed in service after its lantern moved to the shore as a home for the keepers until 1940.

The Old Lighthouse is a hike from the city's jewel and symbol, the East Pier Light.

It marks the entrance to the city's harbor and marina.

The Old Lighthouse served from
1858 - 1904.  (dwm)

The catwalk today is decorative.  They were built to provide keepers of the light safe passage to the light above the storm driven waves.

Early keepers carried oil to the lamp.  Later, a pipeline ran from shore to the light over the catwalk.  Eventually, electricity took care of it.

The Michigan City beach.  (dwm)

The Pier Light is an ornament today, after the Coast Guard determined in 2007 it was no longer needed.

The light is still considered the only public operating lighthouse in Indiana.

While the light is only decorative, it continues to lure folks to the shore it guards.

The Old Lighthouse is a museum, guests can climb into the lantern for a look around.