White Shoal Lighthouse in Lake Michigan

The historic White Shoal Lighthouse in Emmet County, Mackinaw City, Michigan was built in 1910 and sits Northwest of Waugoshance Island. In 1911 Ingvald Olsen was hired at the station's first lighthouse keeper. Over the decades there were many different keepers who managed and lived at the station until it was finally automated in 1975.

If you would like to visit White Shoal you'll have to do it by boat...it's not accessible by land. Like most lights its constructed in a conical shape and painted in a red and white striped/swirl pattern with a red lantern. It reminds me of a classic red and white striped barber pole! When originally built it was painted in a solid color without the colorful stripes.

It stands 121 feet tall and sits on a man-made concrete pier. It's used to aid in ship and boat navigation through the straights of Mackinaw and Lake Michigan. The light can be seen for up to 17 nautical miles on a clear weather day. In 1984 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What's really cool about this lighthouse is that its one of over 150+ past and present lighthouses in the state of Michigan. The state has more lighthouses than any other state in the country. If you would like to see it you'll have to take your own boat, charter one, or buy tickets to participate in one of the lighthouse tours offered by various Lake Michigan vendors.