March 27, 2009

Department of History, Arts and Libraries Acting Director Mark Hoffman and Michigan Historical Center Director Sandra Clark today announced $79,048 in lighthouse preservation grants to four organizations for 2009.

The Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office, is funded by proceeds from the sale of the "Save our Lights" license plate. Lighthouse grants are given to state and local governments or nonprofit organizations that are maintaining or restoring a lighthouse. Recipients must provide 50 percent of the grant award as matching funds.

"Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state. Fortunately, we also have many people who respect the lighthouse's storied place in our collective culture and are committed to preserving them," stated Hoffman. "Lighthouses have come to represent the Great Lakes State."

Clark added, "Since 2000 the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program has awarded $1.2 million in grants to rehabilitate the beautiful, but aging beacons that are so much a part of Michigan. Some lighthouses are along our shorelines, while others are in remote locations offshore. All are important and represent Michigan's rich maritime past."

The Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program was established to assist in the preservation, rehabilitation, and protection of lighthouses in Michigan. The program arose from a concern about the U.S. Coast Guard's disposal of more than 70 lighthouses in Michigan.

This year all applications were funded. Fiscal Year 2009 Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) grant recipients include the following projects. These awards are pending approval of the State Administrative Board.

• $29,666 - Charlevoix Historical Society - Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse
  This lighthouse ownership was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the city of Charlevoix in June 2008. The Charlevoix Historical Society will use its fourth grant to repaint the interior of the lighthouse, including surface preparation and lead paint abatement. Previous MLAP grants assisted with ventilation and exterior rehabilitation and painting.



• $16,666 - Fox Island Lighthouse Association - South Fox Island Lighthouse
  The South Fox Island Lighthouse is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Fox Island Lighthouse Association will use the MLAP grant to hire a consultant to prepare a Historic Structures Report for the lighthouse building.



• $24,000 - Gull Rock Lightkeepers - Gull Rock Lighthouse
  The Gull Rock Lightkeepers own the lighthouse. They will hire a consultant to prepare plans, specifications, and a cost estimate to rehabilitate the interior of the lighthouse. This is the lightkeepers' third grant. Previous grants assisted in replacing the roof.



• $8,716 - Keweenaw Land Trust - Manitou Island Lighthouse
  The Keweenaw Land Trust owns the Manitou Island Light Station. Because of its remote location, docks are needed to get materials to the lighthouse for the ongoing rehabilitation project. The 2009 grant, the lighthouse's third, will help pay for materials to stabilize the historic dock, located three-quarters of a mile from the lighthouse; clearing of a foot trail between the dock and the lighthouse; and purchase and installation of a portable dock that can be anchored to the existing pilings of a former dock once located near the lighthouse.

People interested in supporting the preservation of Michigan's lighthouses can purchase "Save Our Lights" license plates through the Secretary of State. The first year adds an additional $35 to the registration fee, with a $10 fee in subsequent years.

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) assists in the identification, rehabilitation, and interpretation of Michigan's historic resources. The SHPO is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency within the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL). Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, HAL also includes the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. For more information about HAL, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).