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| The Au Sable Lighthouse. 10/5/2024 dwm |
Welcome to my Lighthouse Visits homepage. As we started our trek to lights in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana - I became familiar with two websites that provided information not available at most of the lighthouses (most are not open or have a museum or visitor center).
I want to thank and acknowledge the great work done by Terry Pepper and his Seeing the Light website and Kraig Anderson's amazing directory and guide called Lighthouse Friends.
Illinois lights are listed first followed by Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. At the bottom of this page is a look at our eight days tending the Mission Point lighthouse.
September 9, 2021 I updated a video showing all the lighthouses we've seen so far, scroll to the bottom to see it.
Illinois Lighthouses
Lights on Lake Michigan
Grosse Point 5/28/2023
Waukegan Harbor 5/28/2023
Michigan Lighthouses
Lights on Lake Huron
40 Mile Point Lighthouse
This light filled in a dark portion of land along Lake Huron
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| Old Presque Isle Lighthouse (dwm photo) |
A stub of a light with a big job.
Au Sable Pierhead
If this light weren't on a list of Lake Huron lights, we may not have looked for it.
If this light weren't on a list of Lake Huron lights, we may not have looked for it.
A look at four lights around Cheboygan.
It's the oldest lighthouse in Michigan still standing.
Harbor Beach
A safe place was built from scratch to offer boats a refuge.
A safe place was built from scratch to offer boats a refuge.
Lightship Huron
This ship was the last mobile lighthouse serving the Great Lakes.
This ship was the last mobile lighthouse serving the Great Lakes.
New Presque Isle Lighthouse
This is the tallest lighthouse the public can climb on the Great Lakes.
This is the tallest lighthouse the public can climb on the Great Lakes.
Old Presque Isle Lighthouse
Built in 1840, outdated in 30 years, but still standing.
Peche Island
The light moved to Marine City where it is big attraction.
Built in 1840, outdated in 30 years, but still standing.
Peche Island
The light moved to Marine City where it is big attraction.
The point of small ships is a good name for a treacherous area on Michigan's thumb.
Port Austin Reef Light
I got no closer than two miles to this artificial round island.
I got no closer than two miles to this artificial round island.
Port Sanilac
The light at Port Sanilac filled in one of the last dark spots on Lake Huron.
The light at Port Sanilac filled in one of the last dark spots on Lake Huron.
Presque Isle Harbor Range Lights
Range lights work in tandem to bring ships in safely.
Range lights work in tandem to bring ships in safely.
St. Clair Flats and Range lights
The St. Clair River empties into Lake St. Clair before the Detroit River takes up the trip to Lake Erie.
The St. Clair River empties into Lake St. Clair before the Detroit River takes up the trip to Lake Erie.
One of the most difficult land-based lights to see.
Sturgeon Point
It seems to tower over the Lake Huron coast after years of guarding the shallows.
Tawas Point
Somehow this light moved away from the water after it was built.
Windmill Point
This light stands along the Detroit River north of downtown.
William Livingstone Memorial
You know you have good friends when they build a marble lighthouse in your honor.
Lights on Lake Michigan
Sturgeon Point
It seems to tower over the Lake Huron coast after years of guarding the shallows.
Tawas Point
Somehow this light moved away from the water after it was built.
Windmill Point
This light stands along the Detroit River north of downtown.
William Livingstone Memorial
You know you have good friends when they build a marble lighthouse in your honor.
Lights on Lake Michigan
Big Sable Lighthouse
Just north of Ludington, Michigan in Ludington State Park
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| The St. Joseph Lighthouse and range lights. dwm photo |
It's a fairly short, dramatic reddish orange stub of a candle on the water.
No fancy name necessary for this no-frills, get the job done light on Michigan's west coast.
Two more dark red lights. One under renovations as it stands undisturbed.
The first to Grand Haven didn't provide the best view
of the light, so when we were close in 2023, we went back.
This light sits across a bay from Mission Point - located regally near the shore with a sturdy keeper's home standing guard.
It's a faithful re-creation of a lighthouse destroyed decades before, now it stands guard over a lake near vintage boats.
The natural brick creates a striking image as the light stands alone, the house torn down years ago.
Ludington North Pierhead and White River Lighthouse
Two very different lights. White River's light looks like it grew out of a house while Ludington's light stands tall on the lake.
Manistee North and McGulpin's Point
Two very different lights. White River's light looks like it grew out of a house while Ludington's light stands tall on the lake.
Manistee North and McGulpin's Point
The last couple of Lake Michigan lights on the trip up the state's west coast before we get to Mackinaw.
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| Round Island Lighthouse |
Manistique East Breakwater Light & Sand Point
Manistique's shore still has remnants of its industrial peak more than 100 years ago. The Sand Point light was replaced early in its life, but kept shipping lanes safe for iron ore out of Escanaba.
Manistique's shore still has remnants of its industrial peak more than 100 years ago. The Sand Point light was replaced early in its life, but kept shipping lanes safe for iron ore out of Escanaba.
This lighthouse sits at the end of a long finger of land jutting north from Traverse City.
After living in it for a week there was even more to write.
Old Mackinac Point
It stands guard on the south edge of the Straits of Mackinac, resting from years of work guiding ships safely through the straits.
It stands guard on the south edge of the Straits of Mackinac, resting from years of work guiding ships safely through the straits.
A very impressive old school brick house light and a memorial light in this week's light feature.
Point Peninsula and Menomonie Lights
The Point light is all that's left from the house which burned decades ago. It offers a great look over Lake Michigan. In Menomonie, Michigan just across the state line from Wisconsin stands a light in the midst of refurbishing.
This light has moved around some, then returned to where it started.
Robert H. Manning and Point Betsie
A very impressive old school brick house light and a memorial light in this week's light feature.
Sand Point and Manistique East Breakwater Light
Manistique's shore still has remnants of its industrial peak more than 100 years ago. The Sand Point light was replaced early in its life, but kept shipping lanes safe for iron ore out of Escanaba.
A very impressive old school brick house light and a memorial light in this week's light feature.
Sand Point and Manistique East Breakwater Light
Manistique's shore still has remnants of its industrial peak more than 100 years ago. The Sand Point light was replaced early in its life, but kept shipping lanes safe for iron ore out of Escanaba.
St. Helena and Round Island Lights
I didn't get very close to either light, maybe 2 miles from St. Helena, but both are pretty even at a distance.
Seul Choix
The light is as pretty as its name, which means only choice in French. It lights a very dark stretch of Lake Michigan shore line.
I didn't get very close to either light, maybe 2 miles from St. Helena, but both are pretty even at a distance.
Seul Choix
The light is as pretty as its name, which means only choice in French. It lights a very dark stretch of Lake Michigan shore line.
St Joseph and New Buffalo Michigan Lighthouses
Heading north from Indiana along Lake Michigan
South Haven and Holland Harbor
Iconic dark red candles light Michigan's west coast.
Heading north from Indiana along Lake Michigan
South Haven and Holland Harbor
Iconic dark red candles light Michigan's west coast.
We revisited South Haven in 2023.
South Manitou Island
A beautiful lighthouse, even from seven miles away.
A beautiful lighthouse, even from seven miles away.
Wawatam
This light is new, built to attract tourists, now it stands in St. Ignace where it lights the way for boats and snowmobiles.
This light is new, built to attract tourists, now it stands in St. Ignace where it lights the way for boats and snowmobiles.
White River and Ludington North Pierhead
Two very different lights. White River's light looks like it grew out of a house while Ludington's light stands tall on the lake.
Two very different lights. White River's light looks like it grew out of a house while Ludington's light stands tall on the lake.
Lights on Lake Superior
Copper Harbor Range Lights A pair of lighthouses guided ships through a narrow passage in the wide mouth of Copper Harbor at the very top of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Mendota (Bete Grise) Lighthouse It was a failed light at first then a rediscovered purpose gave it a second life protecting ships on Lake Superior.
Lower Entrance Keweenaw Lighthouse This light pointed the way to the peninsula's biggest cities through a canal into Portage River.
Portage River (Jacobsville) Lighthouse Before the Lower Entrance Light was built, the Portage River house guided ships out of Lake Superior into the shipping lane to Houghton and Hancock.
Sand Point (Baraga) Lighthouse The community of Baraga was helped by the Sand Point lighthouse which guided boats to the trading post of the American Fur Company.
Big Bay Lighthouse It's vital to have a light in the middle of a long dark stretch of land between Marquette and the entrance to the Lower Keweenaw waterway, now it's a bed and breakfast.
Marquette Harbor Lighthouse A Civil War era lighthouse and two pierhead lights guide ships into harbor today as they did in 1870.
Grand Island Harbor Range Lights Picking up in 2024 where we left off in 2022 with the next lights east of Marquette, these two in the small town of Christmas, Michigan.
The Grand Island East Channel Light Just east of Munising at the start of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore you can get a good look at the iconic East Channel Light.
Au Sable Lighthouse The Au Sable Lighthouse and station is beautiful and worth the two-mile round trip walk along Lake Superior.
Grand Marais Range Lights The modest range lights direct ships into the only safe harbor between Whitefish Point and Grand Island.
Indiana Lighthouse
Minnesota Lighthouses on Lake Superior
Wisconsin Lighthouses
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Michigan
Cana Island
Bailey's Harbor
Bailey's Harbor
Grassy Island Range Lights
Kenosha North Pier Light
It's a light. It's a gallery. Out of commission and helping artists earn theirs
Kenosha Lighthouse
Before it was Kenosha, it was Southport. This lighthouse goes back a long way.
Kenosha North Pier Light
It's a light. It's a gallery. Out of commission and helping artists earn theirs
Kenosha Lighthouse
Before it was Kenosha, it was Southport. This lighthouse goes back a long way.
Kevich Lighthouse
How cool would it be to live in a lighthouse for your home?
Manitowoc Breakwater
We saw this beautiful fortress from the deck of the S. S. Badger.
We saw this beautiful fortress from the deck of the S. S. Badger.
Milwaukee Harbor Pierhead Light
My first lighthouse photos in winter began in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Breakwater
It's a formidable structure, it had to be to withstand the storms.
My first lighthouse photos in winter began in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Breakwater
It's a formidable structure, it had to be to withstand the storms.
North Point
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Peninsula Point Lighthouse
Fish Creek
Fish Creek
Plum Island
Door County
Door County
Port Washington Light Station and Pier light
Slowly making it up the Wisconsin coast of Lake Michigan with this stop in Port Washington.
Racine North Breakwater Light
There isn't a lot to look at, but the old metal light has a story.
Slowly making it up the Wisconsin coast of Lake Michigan with this stop in Port Washington.
Racine North Breakwater Light
There isn't a lot to look at, but the old metal light has a story.
Racine Harbor Lighthouse
I made a return trip to this one after missing it in plain sight.
I made a return trip to this one after missing it in plain sight.
Rawley Point Lighthouse
A stately house tucked into the woods along Wisconsin's shoreline.
A stately house tucked into the woods along Wisconsin's shoreline.
Sheboygan Breakwater
The lantern room is missing, but the lamp still shines.
The lantern room is missing, but the lamp still shines.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Sturgeon Bay Canal Pierhead Light
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Light
Two Rivers
A retired light enjoying life in a historic Fishing Village.
Part 1 - Three Lake Winnebago lights
The lights on Winnebago's east coast
Part 2 - Lake Winnebago Lights
Lights on the west side of Lake Winnebago
Living in a Lighthouse - My wife and I were volunteer keepers for a week in September, 2019 at the Mission Point Lighthouse north of Traverse City. These blogs are about the experience:
Day 1 - Our home away from home
Day 2 - The excitement and work of lighthouse living
Days 3 and 4 - It wasn't all work.
Day 5 - Some lighthouse experiences can only happen if you live there.
Day 6 - Our last full day running the gift shop.
Day 7 - Our vacation included a day off.
Another look at the Mission Point Lighthouse
Day 2 - The excitement and work of lighthouse living
Days 3 and 4 - It wasn't all work.
Day 5 - Some lighthouse experiences can only happen if you live there.
Day 6 - Our last full day running the gift shop.
Day 7 - Our vacation included a day off.
Another look at the Mission Point Lighthouse
Here's a look at my favorites My favorite lighthouses
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