Historic Whitefish Point Lighthouse on the Banks of Lake Superior

The historic Whitefish Point Lighthouse was built in 1847 and first lit in 1849. This important light sits on the banks of Lake Superior (the largest of the Great Lakes in North American), to help guide mariners through the treacherous waters. The area around the light is often referred to as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes because out of all of Lake Superior, this area has the most known shipwrecks.

Built out of steel the tower stands 76 feet tall. On a clear weather day the light can be seen for up to 15 nautical miles and has been extremely effective over the years. To this day...mariners count on this light to help guide them through the area. The station has been fully automated since 1971.

Currently the lighthouse is home to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum which houses many artifacts from various shipwrecks from around the region. The lighthouse and museum are open seasonally (May through October) from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You can walk around the beautiful grounds for FREE. If you would like to tour the lighthouse and/or visit the museum you'll have to pay an admission fee.

When visiting we recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the current weather conditions. You'll be doing a lot of walking! If you plan on visiting the museum and taking the lighthouse tour...you should allow 2 hours in your schedule. If you want to spend time walking the grounds or visiting the beach area...you'll need to add additional time for that.

After you're done with all of the activities you'll want to stop into the museum's gift shop to pick up souvenirs and/or gifts for yourself and loved ones. They have some really nice items and they're affordable too! Overall, we really enjoyed our visit and would definitely visit again when in the area.

Visiting the Historic Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

The historic Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is located on the banks of Lake Michigan in Michilimackinac State Park. If you're unfamiliar with the area...you'll find it right off I-75 in Mackinaw City, east of the Mackinaw Bridge.

Hours of operation: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Admission: Children $5.50 Adults $8.50
Open: Seasonally May through October

In 1889 the lighthouse went into operation to help mariners navigate through the dangerous waters of the Straights of Mackinac. For 65 years, four generations of light keepers and their families lived on the lighthouse property. The tower stands 58 feet tall and the light can be seen up to 16 miles away.

Upon arrival you'll want to park in the free parking lot. Head to the admissions area (Fog Signal Building) to pay your admission and obtain a map. There are 5 main areas you'll want to visit which are as follows:

1. Fog Signal Building - This is where you pay your admission fee and the building includes the museum store.

2. Keeper's Quarters - You can walk around the restored Keeper's Quarters to learn more about the keepers who lived and maintained the lighthouse. You'll see some really fun and educational exhibits to help teach you the history of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

3. The Tower - If you're in good health you can climb the stairs to the top of the tower. They offer tower tours (included in your admission), but they're offered on a first come, first served basis. If you climb the stairs to the top you'll be treated to some amazing views of the area.

4. The Barn - In this restored building you can watch the 15-minute long Shipwrecks of the Straights Movie. This is included in your admission price.

5. Warehouse - This building is the home of the Straights of Mackinac Shipwreck Museum. This is included in your admission price.

If you're looking for the public restrooms you'll find them in building #6 along with vending machines to purchase cold beverages. These are the ONLY open-to-the-public restrooms on the property.

The lighthouse complex is located in Michilmackinac State Park which has a lot of nice picnic areas, so feel free to bring along your own picnic lunch. When visiting....we recommend setting aside 1 1/2 to 2 hours in your schedule to experience the lighthouse activities and then an additional 1-2 hours to explore the state park.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse on the Banks of Lake Michigan

Big Sable Point Lighthouse sits on the banks of Lake Michigan and is located in Ludington State Park. It's open for public tours May through October for a donation of $5.00 per person. You can climb all 130 steps to the top for some breathtaking views of Lake Michigan.

The lighthouse was built in 1867 and stands 112 feet tall. Mariners can see the white light from up to 19 nautical miles away. It's listed on the state and national registers of historic places, and is one of the tallest lighthouses in Michigan.

When visiting...please note that you'll be doing a lot of walking. You'll have to walk a little over a mile from the parking lot to the lighthouse unless you visit on a Saturday when they offer visitors a bus ride to and from the lighthouse for a fee. You can decide if you want to climb the steps to the top or just walk around the beautifully landscaped grounds. There is an on-site gift shop in the original keeper's house where you can shop for gifts and souvenirs.

Before visiting I recommend that you visit the Big Sable Point Lighthouse website for their official operating schedule, driving directions and a list of events. They're currently fundraising for donations to help renovate the lighthouse, so if you're a lover of lighthouses, you can obtain that information from their website.

Visiting Crisp Point Lighthouse on Lake Superior

The Crisp Point Lighthouse sits on the shores of Lake Superior in the UP of Michigan. The lighthouse grounds are open year-round with tours of the lighthouse open seasonally, June to October. If you're unfamiliar with the area...it sits just 37 miles north of Newberry. To get there...you'll have to travel a country-style road through the Lake Superior State Forest.

It was built in 1875 and became operational in 1876. The lighthouse tower stands 58 feet from its base and was constructed in your classic conical shape with a black and red lantern at the top. Originally there was several buildings located on the property with the lighthouse situated in the center. If you're interested in learning about the keepers who maintained this light you can find that information on their official website.

When visiting you'll want to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. You'll be doing a lot of walking! During the summer season the lighthouse is open (feel free to climb the steps for some amazing views), spend some time in the visitor's center and when the center is open...that's where you'll find the public restrooms.

There is a beach front area with wooden benches that you can sit on to enjoy the scenic views. Your welcome to walk around the grounds, visiting the beach area, etc. You can bring along your own snacks and beverages...but please take your trash along with you! If you're a lighthouse lover...you'll definitely want to add this one to your must-see list.

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.

Visiting Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse in Michigan

A few months ago we had the pleasure of visiting several of the lighthouses that surround Lake Michigan. If you've never been to the area...we highly recommend that you go. This part of the country is absolutely beautiful, especially if you love the great outdoors and you're a fan of lighthouses.

The Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse sits in the harbor of Manistique in Michigan. When visiting you'll want to wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. You'll be doing a lot of walking! Leading up to the lighthouse you'll find a boardwalk that offers picnic areas, information plaques, off-shoot walking trails, etc.

Construction of the lighthouse was completed in 1915 with the official first lighting in August 1916. The lighthouse was built on a concrete pier with the tower made in a squared-off pyramid shape. The tower is painted in a red color with the lantern painted in black. It looks like your classic-style lighthouse.

During our visit we spent a good 3-4 hours walking down the boardwalk and brought along our own brown-bag lunches which we enjoyed in one of the picnic areas. If you're a dog owner...you can bring your dog for a walk as long as it remains on a leash. There are plenty of park-style benches for you to sit on along the way. The waterfront views are gorgeous in this area and I could literally sit there and relax for hours at a time.

When planning your visit I recommend that you visit the Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse. They have a downloadable PDF guide to help you plan your visit. They can help you find overnight accommodations and make sure you check out their list of things to do in the area. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hoping to visit again soon.