Guardians lighting the way for centuries

With 124 lighthouses serving as beacons to mariners sailing the Great Lakes, Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the Union.

Michigan’s two peninsulas and an international border meant that the entire nation depended on the security and efficiency of the state’s waterways - protected by both lighthouses and forts.

Lighthouses were crucial in the creation of the state's core industries: mining, fur trading and agriculture. Up until the early 1900s, thousands of vessels and steamers were traversing the Great Lakes with virtually no navigational aids to guide them along the dangerous coastline of treacherous rocks, shoals and reefs.

For information on preservation efforts, visit the Michigan Lighthouse Project www.michigan.gov/hal

OLD MISSION POINT LIGHT - built 1870
Located on 45th parallel
Directions: take M.37 to end of Old Mission peninsula, approx. 22 miles from Front St. in Traverse City
GRAND TRAVERSE LIGHT - built 1951
Directions: 9 miles N. of Northport inside Leelanau State Park (entry fee charged)
SOUTH MANITOU ISLAND LIGHT - built 1872
Directions: island may be reached by ferry from Leland.
Light located 0.6 miles from Ranger station and dock
ROBERT H. MANNING LIGHT - built 1991
Second memorial light in Michigan
Directions: from M-22 / M-72 intersection go W. on front St. to lake St. N. into Empire Beach Park
POINT BETSIE LIGHT - built 1858
Oldest operating light in Michigan
Directions: take M-22 to Pt. Betsie Rd. (4 miles N. of blinking light in Frankfort)
FRANKFORT NORTH - built 1932
Breakwater Light
Directions: take M-22 past blinking light to Main St. W. to Frankfort beach
COPPER HARBOUR 1849
Begin at the Copper Harbor Marina, 1/2 mile west of Copper Harbor, off M-26. Public access is by round-trip boat transportation.
STURGEON POINT 1870
It is still an operational lighthouse in continuous service for 128 years.
Located four miles north of Harrisville on the shore of Lake Huron. From Harrisville, travel 2.6 miles north on Highway 23 to Lakeshore Drive. Turn right onto Lakeshore Drive and after 1.2 miles turn right on Point Road
OLD MACKINAC POINT LIGHTHOUSE 1910
East of Colonial Michilimackinac Visitors Center in Mackinac City near south end of bridge.
FORT MACKINAC 1780
Overlooking downtown on Mackinac City.
FORT WILKINS 1844
One mile east of Copper Harbor. Enter from US-41.