Michigan Lights - Sand Point

Sand Point Light, Baraga, Michigan. 9/17/22

 The Sand Point Lighthouse was an idea to guide ships into a trading post at the south end of Keweenaw Bay in 1877 by a worker for the American Fur Trading Company.

 John Jacob Astor was the founder of the company in 1808.  Astor left the company by 1830, the company declared bankruptcy in 1842, and stopped trading by 1847.

 

 Never the less, the idea took hold and the post was eventually named in honor of a Catholic priest named Frederic Baraga who was a missionary to the area.

The lantern. 9/17/22 dwm

The Sand Point light isn't imposing like some lighthouses.  The one and a half story building doesn't tower over the water in L'Anse Bay, it just needed to be visible to the ships on it.

 

According to its history at LighthouseFriends.com, it had wooden stairs linking the first floor to the lantern room, which would have been unusual.  In fact, wood was used extensively in the structure including around the catwalk outside the lantern.

The replacement light is on the tower.

 The light stands on land purchased by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.  It plans to restore the lighthouse but has kept the grounds open for visitors.

 The point isn't bustling with fur-trading ships and boats hauling copper and iron any more, only the mist and memories come around the Sand Point Lighthouse now.

 

 The Sand Point is as unadorned and simple today as it was 145 years ago.  That doesn't mean it should be over-looked or passed by, it should be seen and honored.

The Sand Point Lighthouse at Baraga.  All photos 9/17/2022 by david mossner