Michigan Lights - Munising Range Lights

Munising's Front Range Light. 10/4/24 dwm

The Munising Range lights are next because they were our second stop. They are also the second lighthouses directing ships to safety after they were built in 1908 to replace the original light built in 1868.

Range lights usually have a short tower and a taller one, most of the time the short one is closest to the water.

In Munising, the 55-foot tower is closest to shore, the short one is 31-feet tall and located several blocks behind the front light but placed on the side of a hill where it's 100-feet above the water.

The front light looks nice but isn't right on the water, which reduced the number of shots available. The two lights are 1,150 feet apart, that's four or five city blocks.

The keeper's house next to the front light sits on the main street through town and is still used by government officials, although now the workers take care of the National Lakeshore instead of ships.

The rear range light. 10.4.24 dwm

  

 

The rear light feels like it's in a strange location, the end of a street  at the bottom of the hill. I walked up to the base for a few shots but decided climbing it wouldn't be a better shot.

 

 I was glad to see the range lights have received some tender loving care with repairs to each tower, an undercoating, and fresh paint in he winter of 2008-09. 

 Range lights aren't generally as spectacular as stand-alone lights, they provide a vital service. Lighthouses deliver one of two messages, stay away from danger, or follow the light to safety. That's the task of range lights, critical to safe navigation when there is only one safe way into harbor.

The former keeper's quarters and front range light. 10/4/24 dwm photo

Rear range light (above) and front range light (below) 10/4/2024 dwm photo