Introduction to the Michigan Lighthouse Project
On a small, secluded island in northern Lake Michigan, just north of the Leelanau Peninsula, stands the South Fox Island lighthouse facility. Established in 1868 and containing numerous buildings erected from the early to mid-twentieth century, the long-abandoned structures continue their lonely vigil while gradually deteriorating from the severe climate inherent to the Great Lakes.
The original 1868 schoolhouse-style lighthouse remains, but will soon succumb to the elements if not restored. Open windows allow sunlight, rain, snow, and birds access to the empty rooms. Thick vegetation nearly consumes the 1911 lighthouse keepers' double dwelling, while the pristine interior woodwork awaits a long-overdue polishing. The doors of the 1934 steel skeletal tower -- one of only three remaining in the Great lakes -- swing open, and the rusting adjacent fog signal building slowly collapses, its unique interior woodworking already exposed to the harsh weather. Remnants of the dock clutter the shoreline, and the boathouse lies half filled with stones piled into the structure by decades of receding water and ice. An oil house and a small work shed also grace the landscape.
The South Fox Island lighthouse typifies the plight of many of Michigan's lighthouses. These architectural wonders once served as crucial beacons to Great Lakes shipping, but now they have yielded to the advance of technology. The era of global positioning has made the Fresnel lens antiquated to all but recreational boaters and lighthouse enthusiasts. Simple metal poles supporting computerized navigation instruments have replaced the brick and steel towers with their adjacent keeper's dwellings and ancillary outbuildings.
Yet these historic structures still attest to the rich maritime history of the state. Their very presence still commands awe from those who catch sight of them and lighthouse lore never fails to capture the attention of all who pass their way. Michigan's lighthouses, many in a state of disrepair and in danger of disintegrating, stand witness to the great age of the lighthouse keepers and their isolated lives struggling to keep the shipping lanes of the Great Lakes safe. Dedicated groups endeavoring to save this integral part of the state's history have restored some of Michigan's lighthouses. Several of these lighthouses now house museums devoted to lighthouse history and maritime culture, and are open to the public for their pleasure and education. Many more lighthouses, however, are in dire need of restoration. Without quality stewards to preserve, maintain, and display these ailing structures, they will certainly vanish from the landscape, only to exist in our collective memory, in old photographs, or in dusty log books.
Lighthouses in the United States were established as early as 1789 by the Lighthouse Establishment and as recently as World War II by the U. S. Coast Guard. The state of Michigan has over 120 lighthouses -- more than any other state. Many reside along the extensive 3,200 miles of shoreline of Michigan's mainland; some stand on remote islands or isolated shoals and reefs miles offshore. All have historic or architectural significance and are either listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
Two-thirds of Michigan's lighthouses currently under federal ownership are scheduled for disposal within the next decade.
The sheer number of these structures leaving federal jurisdiction has created a crisis, prompting the National Trust for Historic Preservation to name Michigan's Historic Lighthouses to its list of America's most endangered places. Michigan's lighthouses have become the state's most identifiable icon, gracing tourism guides, welcome centers, city logos, and countless marquees, billboards, business cards, and storefronts. Rescuing these historic facilities and maintaining them on behalf of the public for generations to come has emerged as one of Michigan's most popular endeavors. To facilitate this grand yet popular undertaking, the Michigan Lighthouse Project and the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance were created.
For information about any of the programs described on this site, write the State Historic Preservation Office, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., P.O. Box 30740, Lansing, MI 48909-8240, or contact us at (517) 373-1630 or preservation@michigan.gov.
Are you interested in seeing Michigan lighthouses that are on the National Register or State Register, or that have a Michigan Historical Marker? Visit
Michigan's Historic Sites Online. Use the keyword search feature to look for a specific lighthouse (or lighthouses in general), or use the community search feature to browse by location.
State Historic Preservation Office, Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Send comments about this page to preservation@michigan.gov.
