Michigan Lights - Old Mackinac Point

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Mackinac Bridge, Mackinaw City, 10/9/2024 dwm photo

When I visited the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in September 2017, I didn't take the tour or even walk the official grounds. My story about it said we were too busy doing other things. You can read my original post here.

The lantern. 10/9/2024 dwm

It's part of a state park, which has areas with free access and others that require a ticket. Seven years later, when we stayed overnight north of the Mackinac Bridge, we crossed the bridge to eat at one of our favorite restaurants from that earlier trip.

My wife wanted to shop, so while she shopped, I paid for a ticket and tour of the lighthouse and get an opportunity to climb its tower.

Before I looked around the grounds or the house, I was one of six to climb the tower with a guide wearing light-keeper attire.

In the watch-room below the lantern. 10/9/24

We climbed the spiral stairs to the watch-room where a keeper could work on records while looking out the port-hole windows, while being close to the lantern when it required attention.

Then we climbed into the lantern. The light was removed years ago, so there was room to take in the 360-degree view of the Mackinac Straits, the iconic bridge, the park, and the Round Island lighthouse.

The same conditions that made picture taking of the De Tour and Martin Reef lights great, made for good shots here as well. Several are shown at the end of the post.

From the lantern looking east, the Round Island lighthouse is on the right 1/3 line. 10/9/24 dwm

Mackinac Point marks the divide between Lakes Huron and Michigan. It is a dangerous spot for ships because of the narrows and shallow depths.

Before this light was built, traffic was handled by lighthouses on either side of the straits. As captains complained about the need for a new light, the first measure placed a fog horn at the point to help navigation when fog settled over the water, making navigation difficult.

The foghorn building entrance. 10/9/24 dwm

In 1892, they built a house that became known as the Castle on the Lake. The light's tower is 45-feet tall.

On the grounds a barn is a museum for shipwrecks around the Mackinac Straits. Another building alternates showing videos about the lighthouse and shipwrecks.

In 2000, work began to restore the lighthouse to what it looked like in 1910, It opened to the public in 2004.

The lighthouse compound is open for visitors from early May into early October. Close by is a second section of the park known as Colonial Michilimackinac that re-creates a 19th century fort and fur trading village.

It's worth a visit and the dose of history will be a nice balance for the more touristy things to do in Mackinaw City.