Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Western Lower Peninsula

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. The state of Michigan comes in two parts: the Lower Peninsula (between Lakes Huron and Michigan) and the Upper Peninsula (between Lakes Michigan and Superior). Putting the two together, the state has an astonishingly long coastline, so it is not surprising that Michigan has more lighthouses than any other U.S. state, by quite a large margin. The Directory has information on more than 130 sites. 

This lighthouse heritage is well recognized. Michigan is the only state that supports lighthouse preservation with a program of annual grants from the state to local preservation groups. All over the state, volunteers are working hard to save and restore lighthouses. There is a state preservation society, the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, and the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association is also based in the state.

Michigan was organized as a territory in 1805 and admitted to the union as the 26th state in 1837.

This page includes lighthouses of the west coast of the Lower Peninsula from the Indiana border through Maanistee County. This relatively straight coast faces west on Lake Michigan, There is a separate page for lighthouses of the Northwestern Lower Peninsula.

Aids to navigation in western Michigan are maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with an Aids to Navigation Tema based at Muskegan. However ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in many cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. USCG numbers are from Volume VII of the United States Coast Guard Light List.

General Sources
Seeing the Lights: The Lighthouses of Michigan
A wonderful site by the late Terry Pepper, with fine photos, accounts of recent visits to many of the lighthouses, and extensive historical information.
Michigan Lighthouses
Excellent photos and information posted by Kraig Anderson.
Lake Michigan Lighthouses
Photos by C.W. Bash.
Lighthouse Hunters - Lower Michigan
Photos and accounts by Christine & Tom Cardaci.
Lighthouses of Lake Michigan
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Michigan, United States Lighthouses
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association
GLLKA encourages lighthouse preservation throughout the Great Lakes states, but it is best known for its work preserving the Round Island, St. Helena Island, and Cheboygan Range Lights in the Straits of Mackinac area.
Lakeshore Keepers
This organization (formerly the Sable Points Lightkeepers Assoviation) manages the Big Sable Point, Little Sable Point, Ludington North Breakwater, Manistee North Pierhead, and White River Lighthouses.
Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy
This organization is dedicated to the preservation of lighthouses and life saving stations throughout the state.
Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program
This state program provides grants annually for lighthouse preservation.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: Light Lists
The USCG Light List can be downloaded in pdf format.
GPSNautical Charts
Navigation chart for Lake Michigan.
Google Maps
Satellite view of :Lake Michigan.
 


Little Sable Light, Stony Lake, May 2020
Instagram photo by Eric Nyberg


North Pierhead Inner Light, St. Joseph, July 2024
Google Maps photo by Frank Post

Berrien County Lighthouses
** St. Joseph (Benton Harbor) North Pierhead Inner
1907. Active; focal plane 53 ft (16 m); continuous white light. 53 ft (16 m) octagonal steel tower mounted on square 1-story cast iron fog signal building, built midway in the pier. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black; fog signal building roof is red. Frank Post's 2024 photo is at right, Tom Gill has a 2014 photo and another photo, Pepper has a page for the lighthouses, Teresa Forrest has a good photo of both St. Joseph lights, Wikimedia has Russell Sekeet's photo, Kevin Birdsall has a 2025 street view along the pier, and Google has a satellite view. The Coast Guard has a historic photo. The pier lights replaced a pair of smaller range lights established in 1889. In 2008 the St. Joseph lighthouses became available for transfer under NHLPA and the City of St. Joseph applied for ownership. An engineering survey in the summer of 2008 found that the lights needed at least $1 million in restoration before they could be opened to the public. In late 2012 the 4th order Fresnel lens was removed for restoration and display at the St. Joseph Heritage Museum. The city took ownership of both lighthouses in a ceremony on 8 October 2013. It was estimated that restoration would now require about $2 million. The Lighthouse Forever Fund was launched to receive contributions. A contract for an engineering study was awarded in November. In May 2015 Mihm Enterprises bid $1.7 million for the restoration of the lighthouses and the catwalk. City Commission awarded a $988,000 contract to restore the lighthouses only, deferring the catwalk until more funds could be raised. By May 2016 the restoration was complete. Public tours offered through the Heritage Musuem began on June 11. In 2019 the city considered buying from the Coast Guard the 1907 duplex keeper's quarters, located at 107 North Pier Street near the Coast Guard station. They decided against it, but a private individual purchased the house and is offering to donate it to the city, if the city will agree to move it. Google has a street view and a satellite view of the house. In October 2024 the Heritage Museum announced it will reorganize, sell its current building, and withdraw from managing lighthouse tours. City officials promised to find a new tour manager. Located on the north side of the St. Joseph River entrance adjacent to Tiscornia City Park in St. Joseph. Accessible by walking the pier. Parking is available in Tiscornia Park at the base of the pier. Site open, tower has been open to tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays late May through mid September. Owner/site manager: City of St. Joseph. . ARLHS USA-797; USCG 7-19520.
** St. Joseph (Benton Harbor) North Pierhead Outer
1906. Active; focal plane 31 ft (9.5 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 30 ft (9 m) round cast iron tower built at the end of the pier. The original 5th order Fresnel lens is on display at the St. Joseph Heritage Museum in St. Joseph. Lighthouse painted white, lantern and gallery black. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. The original catwalk links this tower to the inner tower and to shore. Sibling of the South Haven tower (see below). Pepper has a page for the lighthouses, Patrick James has a 2022 photo, Teresa Forrest has a good photo of both St. Joseph lights, Wikimedia has Russell Sekeet's photo, Patrick James has a closeup, Kevin Birdsall has a 2025 street view along the pier a portion is seen at right), and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the pier. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower open to tours (fee) on selected Fridays and Saturdays during the summer. Owner/site manager: City of St. Joseph. ARLHS USA-798; USCG 7-19515.

North Pierhead Outer Light, St. Joseph, July 2025
Google Maps street view by Kevin Birdsall

Van Buren County Lighthouses
* South Haven South Pierhead (2)
1903 (relocated 1913 when the pier was extended). Station established 1872. Active; focal plane 37 ft (11 m); continuous red light. 35 ft (10.5 m) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted red, lantern black. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) as needed. Fuchun Zhu's 2021 photo is at right, Pepper has a fine page for the lighthouse, Anderson's page has winter photos, Kristen Martinez has a 2021 photo, Preston Ferguson has a 2022 closeup, Lighthouse Digest has published a history of the light station, the Coast Guard has a 1914 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Mauricio Vidal Astudillo has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse, a shorter version of the Muskegon South Pierhead Light, replaced an 1872 wood tower. In 1913 the pier was extended and the lighthouse was relocated 425 ft (130 m) to its new ending. The cast iron catwalk linking the tower to shore was relocated from Calumet, Illinois, in 1925. The lighthouse was the front light of a range from 1916 until the 1960s; the rear light, on a 50 ft (15 m) skeletal tower, was removed in the 1960s. The 2-1/2 story wood, hipped-roof keeper's house (1872), located at 91 Michigan Avenue onshore, was transferred to the city for preservation in 2000. The Michigan Maritime Museum has renovated the keeper's house as the Marialyce Canonie Great Lakes Research Library; Google has a street view and a satellite view of the building. When the lighthouse became available under NHLPA in 2010 South Haven City Council approved an application by the Historical Association of South Haven, and in October 2011 that group was selected for ownership. Ownership was transferred officially in a rededication ceremony on 9 August 2012. In late 2014 the maritime museum applied for a grant to repairs to the keeper's house. In 2015 the Association completed a fund drive to raise the $300,000 needed for restoration. Interior restoration began in October 2015 and was completed in the spring of 2016; exterior restoration and repainting were carried out in the fall of 2016. The project was assisted by a $60,000 state grant. The restored lighthouse was rededicated in a ceremony on 19 July 2017. In 2021 portholes were replaced, allowing daylight to return to the interior of the tower. The tower was repainted in 2023. Located at the end of the pier at the foot of Water Street in South Haven. Accessible by walking the pier; parking is available in South Beach Park at the foot of the pier. Site open, tower closed except for an open house during the city's mid-June Harborfest. Owner/site manager: Historical Association of South Haven (South Haven Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-772; USCG 7-19505.
* Old Harbor Village
2016 (?). Active (?) (unofficial); red light, characteristic unknown. Approx. 30 ft (9 m) hexagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. David Whitworh has a 2024 photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The building was for sale for $85,000 in the spring of 2018. Located at 515 Williams Street, next to the South Haven Yacht Club on the south side of the Black River. Site open, tower closed.

South Haven South Pierhead Light, South Haven, January 2021
Google Maps photo by Fuchun Zhu

Allegan County Lighthouses
* Kalamazoo River (Saugatuck) (replica)
2002 replica of 1859 lighthouse. Active (an unofficial red light is displayed). 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical wood tower with lantern and gallery, rising from one end of a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. Entire building painted with red and white horizontal bands. A 2020 photo is at right, Brandon Dawson has a closeup 2020 photo showing the red light, Andrew Nicolle has a 2007 photo, Teresa Forrest has a fine closeup, and Google has a 2025 street view and a satellite view. The original lighthouse was located at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River; Lighthouse Digest has an article on the history of the light station. The replica is located at Union and Hamilton Streets in Douglas, on the south side of the river. (For a decade it was adjacent to the historic passenger steamship Keewatin, as seen in another of Forrests's photos, but the Keewatin was sold in 2012 and is on display at the Great Lakes Museum in Kingston, Ontario.) Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Sailing Saugatuck. .
* [Saugatuck (Kalamazoo River) Pierhead Lights (3)]
Around 2011; pierhead lights established 1909 (south pier) and 1914 (north pier). Active; north pierhead light focal plane 30 ft (9 m), green flash every 4 s; south pierhead light focal plane 30 ft (9 m), green flash every 4 s. Two 26 ft (8 m) cylindrical "D9" towers; both towers painted white, north pier tower with a single green band and south pier tower with a single red band. Fog horn (blast every 15 s as needed) on the south light. Jeff Rozema has a photo of the south tower and a closeup of the north tower, an aerial photo is available, and Google has a satellite view of the two piers. The current lights replaced steel post lights seen in Pepper's 2002 photo. Located on the breakwaters protecting the river entrance northwest of Saugatuck. Reportedly accessible from a public parking area at the end of Riverside Drive. Site open, towers closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1266 (south) and 413 (north); USCG 7-19445 (south) and 19450 (north).
 

Kalamazoo Light, Kalamazoo, June 2020
Instagram photo by amazingshots_lighthouse

Ottawa County Lighthouses
* Holland Harbor South Pierhead (3) ("Big Red")
1936 (light tower added to the 1907 fog signal building; station established 1872). Active: focal plane 52 ft (16 m); flash every 10 s, alternating red and white. 45 ft (13.5 m) square cylindrical steel-clad wood tower with lantern and gallery (1936) mounted on a 2-story steel-clad brick fog signal building (1907); 250 mm lens (1932). Entire building painted red. The 6th order Fresnel lens (1907) is on display at the Holland Museum. Andrew Severson's 2023 photo is at right, Pepper has a page for the lighthouse, Lighthouse Digest has Jim Merkel's feature article on the lighthouse, Patrick Toth has a 2025 photo, Shawn Miller has a 2017 street view, and Google has a satellite view. The second (1907) lighthouse was relocated in 1937 as the Calumet Harbor Breakwater South End Light in Indiana. The building was painted a buff color for the first four decades of its life; it acquired its trademark red in 1956. In 2000-01 protests forced state park officials to drop a plan to charge portrait photographers $325 for photos taken with the lighthouse as a background. In 2005 the lighthouse was offered for transfer under NHLPA; the Holland Harbor Lighthouse Historical Commission was the only applicant. In February 2007 title to the lighthouse was transferred to the Commission. By 2012 the lighthouse had faded to Big Pink; it was repainted for free by Lamar Construction using donated paint and supplies. Located on the south pier at the harbor entrance in Macatawa, west of Holland. Accessible by a walk of about 1/2 mile (800 m) one way; visitors must park at the entrance to the gated Macatawa community, where parking is limited to 90 minutes. There are excellent views from Holland State Park, at the end of Ottawa Beach Road on the north (opposite) side of the entrance. Site open to out-of-state visitors Monday through Friday but to others only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Holland Harbor Lighthouse Historical Commission. . ARLHS USA-375; USCG 7-19295.
* [Grand Haven Main (2)]
1855 (station established 1839). Inactive since 1905. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven. The original lighthouse was destroyed by a storm in December 1852. The light tower of the second "schoolhouse" lighthouse was demolished in 1910 but the 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house continued to serve the pierhead lights. The building was sold as a private residence in 1956 and its owners have expanded it. John Kulba contributed a photo and Google has a satellite view. Located on a high bluff overlooking the south side of the harbor entrance. Site closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-327.

Holland Harbor Light, Holland, February 2023
Instagram photo by Andrew Severson
* Grand Haven South Pierhead Outer
1905. Active; focal plane 42 ft (13 m); red flash every 10 s. 36 ft (11 m) square cylindrical lantern mounted on a cast iron-clad wood fog signal building (1875), built on the end of the pier; 190 mm lens. The 4th order Fresnel lens of the Grand Haven Main Light (previous entry) was used here until the 1970s; it is now on display at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum's Depot Museum of Transportation. Entire building painted red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) as needed. A 2025 photo by Gonzalo Gonzalez is at right, Pepper has the history of the two lights, Hank Roeters has a good 2008 photo, a 2021 closeup is available, the Coast Guard has a 1923 photo, Alexander Schrameyer has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. The catwalk (1922) linking both lighthouses to shore was renovated in 1987-88 after citizen protests stopped the Coast Guard from demolishing it. The Coast Guard renovated the lighthouse in spring and early summer 2001. In 2009 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA and in December 2012 ownership was transferred to the city (see next entry). In 2014 the lighthouse was "re-skinned" with new corrugated metal siding. In fall 2016 the Corps of Engineers began a project to repair the pier; this forced removal of the catwalk to the lighthouses. Engineers found that much of the catwalk had to be replaced with new material. The restored catwalk was installed beginning in May 2019. As of August 2017 some $780,000 had been raised towards a goal of $1 million, and in January 2020 fundraising was launched for the last $100,000 needed. The pier repair project continued through most of 2018. In 2021 a $75,000 grant supported restoration of the lantern room, and in 2022 restoration was supported by a $60,000 grant from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program matching $76,409 raised locally. A $212,465 project in summer 2023 completed restoration of the lighthouse, it will open as museum and gift shop in 2024. In Novenber 2025 a storm blew out two panes of the lantern glass. Located on South Harbor Street in Grand Haven adjacent to Grand Haven State Park; ample parking is available. Both lighthouses are accessible in good weather by walking the pier. Site open, towers closed. Owner: City of Grand Haven. Site manager: Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy . ARLHS USA-1078; USCG 7-18965.
 

South Pierhead Outer Light, Grand Haven, October 2025
Google Maps photo by Gonzalo Gonzalez
* Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner (2)
1907 (station established 1881). Active; focal plane 52 ft (16 m); red light occulting every 4 s. 51 ft (15.5 m) round cast iron tower with lantern and gallery built about midway on the pier; 250 mm lens. Entire lighthouse painted red. Sibling of the Muskegon South Pierhead Light. The original 6th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum in Grand Haven. Scott Green's 2024 photo is at right, Pepper has the history of the two lights, Ted Andes has a photo also showing both towers, Lighthouse Digest has Tim Harrison's October 2001 feature article on all the Grand Haven lighthouses, Tim Patterson has a 2021 photo, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, Mark Kelley has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. In 2009 the two Grand Haven lighthouses became available for transfer under NHLPA. The animal rights group PETA initially expressed interest in acquiring them for a "fish empathy" center, but it withdrew its bid in August. A new consortium, the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy, was formed to apply for ownership. In November 2009 the City Council approved the Conservancy's proposal but in February 2010 the National Park Service rejected the application. The City of Grand Haven then agreed to take ownership and lease the lights to the Conservancy and in June 2010 the park service accepted the city's application. A lighthouse endowment fund was established. In December 2012 the Coast Guard completed repairs to the two lighthouses and transferred ownership to the city. In April 2013 the lighthouse conservancy announced that it had $400,000 available for restoration of the lighthouses and city council accepted $260,000 of these funds to repaint the lighthouses. The repainting of this light was completed in the summer of 2013 and the two lighthouses were rededicated in August 2014. In April 2024 the state granted $60,000 for retoration work on the lighthouse. Located on South Harbor Street in Grand Haven adjacent to Grand Haven State Park; ample parking is available. Both lighthouses are normally accessible in good weather by walking the pier (closed during the catwalk installation in 2019). Owner: City of Grand Haven. Site manager: Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy . ARLHS USA-1077; USCG 7-18975.

South Pierhead Inner Light, Grand Haven, January 2024
Google Maps photo by Gonzalo Gonzalez
* Grand Haven North Pierhead (1?) (relocated)
Date unknown. Inactive. Approx. 9 m (30 ft) square white skeletal tower rising from a square metal equipment shelter and mounted today on a square concrete base. Selector Jonathon Photography has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The light was replaced on the pier by a standard D9 tower. Located at the entrance to Coast Guard Park on North Shore Drive in Ferrysburg, on the north side of Grand Haven. Site open, tower closed.

Muskegon County Lighthouses
* Muskegon South Breakwater
1930. Active; focal plane 70 ft (21 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 53 ft (16 m) square pyramidal steel tower mounted on a square steel equipment room. Entire structure painted red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 20 s) as needed. A photo shows the lighthouse with the tall ship Europa in 2003, Anderson has an excellent page for the lighthouse, Pepper has a page for the Muskegon lighthouses, Carl Lentz has a 2021 photo, Michael Melzer has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. In 2008 the Muskegon lighthouses became available for transfer under NHLPA and in June 2010 ownership was transferred to the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy. By 2021 the rusting lighthouse was in poor condition and the Conservancy estimated $750,000 was needed for restoration. The state responded with an $800,000 appropriation in 2022. Restoration was expected in 2023 but does not seem to have happened. The city controls the funds and has agreed to take ownership from the Conservancy if necessary. In 2025 a state grant of $800,000 launched the restration project, which will coninue in 2026. Located at the end of the south outer breakwater at Muskegon. Accessible by walking the breakwater; parking is available nearby in Margaret Drake Elliott Park. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy (Muskegon Lights ). ARLHS USA-518; USCG 7-18705.
** Muskegon South Pierhead
1903. Active; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); red flash every 4 s. 48 ft (14.5 m) round cast iron tower at the end of the breakwater; 300 mm lens. Entire lighthouse painted red. The former Coast Guard station at the foot of the pier now houses a NOAA research facility and seasonal Coast Guard detachment. Feryal Alayont's 2021 photo is at right, Pepper has a page for the Muskegon lighthouses, Anderson's page has a good photo showing both light and station, a 2009 photo and a view from the lake are available, Jared Alderink has a street view along the pier, and Google has a satellite view. The NOAA Lake Michigan Field Station is located in the former U.S. Coast Guard Station adjacent to the pier and lighthouse (the active Coast Guard Station Muskegon is next door). In 2008 the Muskegon lighthouses became available for transfer under NHLPA and in June 2010 ownership was transferred to the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy. In June 2013 the Conservancy announced plans for a $500,000 restoration of the two Muskegon lighthouses. In June 2014 the conservancy began opening the lighthouse for tours on Friday evenings before Movies at the Beach presentations, and regular openings began at Memorial Day 2015. Safety concerns closed the two lighthouses in 2016. In 2020 a restoration project fixed leaks and replaced the lantern glass. The conservancy estimates $750,000 will be needed for a complete restoration. In May 2023 City Commission agreed to take ownership of the lighthouse; planning for this transfer is underway. Located at the end of the south pier at the harbor entrance, at Fulton and Beach Streets in Muskegon. The NOAA station has a marked walkway for visitors to walk around the station and access the pier. Site open, tower open Friday through Monday afternoons, Memorial Day (late May) through Labor Day (early September). Owner: Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy (Muskegon Lights ). ARLHS USA-1082; USCG 7-18710.
 

South Pierhead Light, Muskegon, June 2021
ex-Google Maps photo by Feryal Alayont
**** White River
1876. Inactive since 1960. 38 ft (11.5 m) octagonal cylindrical limestone tower attached to a 1-1/2 story Norman Gothic limestone keeper's house. The building is unpainted stone; lantern painted black. The lighthouse is a museum and the original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display. A 2022 photo is at right, Pepper has a page for the light, Anderson's page has several good photos, Clark Van Halsema has a 2021 photo, Lighthouse Digest had Jim Merkel's feature article in February 2002, the Coast Guard has a 1952 photo, Kirk Schultz has an early spring street view, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse marked the entrance to White Lake, a lagoon connected to Lake Michigan by a short canal; it was replaced by a D9 tower (USCG 7-18650) on the north breakwater at the canal entrance. Local citizens contributed the funds to buy the light station when it was decommissioned. A state grant provided exterior restoration and trim painting in 2000. In 2010 budget cuts forced the township to consider a drastic reduction in its support for the lighthouse. In October 2011 township officials agreed with the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association ISPLKA) on a plan for the Association to assume operation of the lighthouse museum. Beginning in 2025 SPLKA is offering stays at the lighthouse for volunteer docents. Located at the end of Maple Lane in Wabaningo, west of White Hall. Site open, museum and tower open daily except Monday, late May through late October. Owner: Fruitland Township. Site manager: Lakeshore Keepers (White River Light Station ). ARLHS USA-885.
 

White River Light, White Hall, October 2022
Instagram photo by Lighthouse Buffs
 

Oceana County Lighthouses
**** Little Sable
1874 (O.M. Poe). Inactive since 2014. 107 ft (32.5 m) unpainted round red brick tower with lantern and gallery; original 3rd order Sautter & Co. Fresnel lens. Lantern painted black. A classic Poe tower. Sadly, the keeper's quarters and all the other light station buildings were demolished in 1955. Eric Nyberg's 2020 photo is at the top of this page, Brian Muir has a 2025 photo, John Murphy has a 2021 photo, Pepper has an excellent page for the lighthouse, C.M. Hanchey has a good 2011 photo, Wikimedia has several photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has a 1914 photo, and Google has a satellite view and a 2017 street view. Lighthouse Digest has Jim Merkel's March 2001 article on the history of the light station. Although no one has listed this lighthouse as endangered, it stands just off the beach and appears threatened by erosion. The lighthouse was formerly painted white, but the paint was sandblasted away in 1977. In 2002 the Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association began negotiating to lease the tower; this finally happened in December 2005, allowing the lighthouse to be opened to the public in 2006. The association has since changed its name to Lakeshore Keepers. Access to the lighthouse was improved greatly in 2010 when a paved walkway through the dunes was completed. The light was deactivated in 2014. High water levels brought the lake almost to the base of the lighthouse in winter 2020. Located off Silver Lake Road near Mears, south of Ludington; ample parking is available. Site open (park entry fee), tower open daily from late May through late September (small donation requested). Owner: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Site manager/operator: Silver Lake State Park and Lakeshore Keepers (Little Sable Point Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-443; ex-USCG 7-18645.
* Pentwater South Pierhead (2)
1937 (station established 1873). Active; focal plane 48 ft (14.5 m); red flash every 4 s. 34 ft (10 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower with a small enclosure in the lower portion. Entire tower painted red. A 2024 photo is at right, Pepper has a page for the Pentwater lighthouses, a 2022 closeup and a 2021 photo of the two Pentwater lighthouses is available, Ryan Culby has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was a wood tower shown in a 1914 Coast Guard photo. Located at the end of the breakwater on the south side of the harbor entrance. Accessible in calm weather by walking the breakwater from Chester Street Park at the end of Chester Street in Pentwater. Good views from Mears State Park at the foot of Lowell Street on the other side of the entrance. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1270; USCG 7-18630.

South Pierhead Light, Pentwater, July 2024
Google Maps photo by Sheri
* Pentwater North Pierhead
1987. Active; focal plane 43 ft (13 m); green flash every 2.5 s. 35 ft (11 m) white round cylindrical steel tower with a single horizontal green band. The tower is similar to the standard "D9" pierhead towers but is more robust. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. Pepper has a page for the Pentwater lighthouses, a 2021 photo of the two Pentwater lighthouses is available, Matt Stehouwer has a 2019 street view showing both lighthouses, Kirk Schultz has a sunrise street view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the harbor entrance. Accessible in calm weather by walking the breakwater from Mears State Park at the foot of Lowell Street in Pentwater. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-594; USCG 7-18620.

Mason County Lighthouses
* [Ludington South Breakwater (2)]
1960s (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 30 ft (9 m); red flash every 2.5 s. 25 ft (7.5 m) white round cylindrical "D9" steel tower with a single horizontal red band. Steven Pierce has a good photo, Mason Lilly has a photo of the cross-lake ferry Badger passing the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the breakwater; clearly visible from the North Breakwater Light. Accessible in calm weather by walking the pier. Site open, closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1081; USCG 7-18555.
*** Ludington North Breakwater (2)
1924 (station established 1914). Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 57 ft (17.5 m) square pyramidal steel tower, mounted on a prow-shaped concrete base designed to break the force of storm waves. Lighthouse painted white; lantern is black. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) as needed. Philip Odum's 2023 photo is at right, Pepper has a fine page for the lighthouse, a 2021 photo and another good photo are available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has a 1935 photo, and Google has a closeup street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse replaced an 1871 wood tower on the former south pier. The lighthouse has a slight lean (seen in Odum's photo at right), which was not corrected when it was renovated by the Coast Guard in 1993. In 2002 the city of Ludington, the Mason County Historical Society, and the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association now called Lakeshore Keepers) were working on a plan to lease the tower and the nearby Coast Guard station, which was scheduled to be replaced. However, in 2005 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. In May 2006 the city's application was approved by the National Park Service and the transfer to city ownership occurred shortly thereafter. Also in May 2006 the light was changed from white to green to help boaters distinguish it from the lights of the town. In 2018 SPLKA restored the 14 porthole windows of the lighthouse. The Coast Guard Station was also transferred to the city; renovated as the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum it opened in August 2017 with exhibits including Fresnel lenses and other lighthouse artifacts. Lakeshore Keepers partners with the city in managing the lighthouse. Located at the end of West Ludington Avenue, just of MI 116 in downtown Ludington. Parking is available. Accessible in calm weather by walking the pier; there's also a good view during the summer from the S.S. Badger ferry linking Ludington to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Site open, museum open daily year round, tower open daily late May through early September, weather permitting. Owner: City of Ludington. Site manager: Lakeshore Keepers (Ludington North Breakwater Light ). ARLHS USA-460; USCG 7-18530.

North Breakwater Light, Ludington, November 2023
Google Maps photo by Philip Odum
**** Big Sable Point
1867. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 106 ft (32 m); continuous white light. 112 ft (34 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, encased since 1900 by steel plates, attached to a 2-story brick keeper's house; 300 mm lens. Lighthouse painted in broad black and white horizontal bands. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is on display at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Fog signal tower. The modernized keeper's house is occupied by volunteer keepers for one- or two-week stays during the summer. Jeanette Stuart's 2023 photo is at right, Pepper has a good page for the lighthouse, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Nick Kruger has a 2021 photo, the Coast Guard has a 1914 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, there's a beach view by Jared Alderink, and Google has a good satellite view. Lighthouse Digest has Tim Harrison's article on the history of the light station and Jim Merkel's account of its restoration. The lighthouse was formerly endangered by beach erosion. The 1908 fog signal building fell into the lake in 1941 and by 1977 the lake had breached the seawall and was within 4 ft (120 cm) of the tower. Erosion is now controlled by a seawall rebuilt and extended in 1990-93. Lakeshore Keepers works for preservation of the light station. In 1999 association members renovated the interior of the tower. Ownership of the station was transferred to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 2002. In 2012 a grant from the National Park Service supported restoration of 300 ft (90 m) of the seawall, and in late 2020 the Department of Natural Resources spent $130,000 to recap the seawall and add wave barriers in front of it. Restoration plans in 2021 included repainting the tower, restoring rusted sections, and replacing the roof and more than 700 original bricks. A $40,000 grant from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program in 2022 funded a historic structure report to guide further work. Located beyond the end of MI 116 north of Ludington. Accessible by a 1.5 mile (2.5 km) boardwalk trail from the Pines Campground of Ludington State Park. Site open, keeper's house and tower open daily May 1 through early September and Thursday through Sunday from mid Seotember through late October. There is a small fee to climb the tower. Owner: Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Ludington State Park). Site manager/operator: Lakeshore Keepers (Big Sable Point Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-054; USCG 7-18525.

Manistee County Lighthouses
* [Manistee Main (2)]
1872 (station established 1870). Inactive 1875-1894 and since 1927. 2-story wood keeper's house; the lantern, formerly mounted on the roof, was removed in 1927. The lighthouse was replaced by the pierhead light. In 1993 it was relocated to the end of 2nd Avenue, west of Melitzer Street, where it is in use as a private residence; Google has a street view. GLLKA's blog has an article on this light, including a current photo, and Google has a satellite view. Site closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-467.

Big Sable Point Light, Ludington, May 2023
Instagram photo by Jeanette Stuart
[Manistee South Breakwater (2)]
Date unknown (station established 1915). Active; focal plane 10 m (33 ft); red flash every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) round cylindrical "D9" steel tower painted white with one red horizontal band. A photo is available and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was a red skeletal tower similar to the Pentwater South Pierhead lighthouse (see above). Located at the end of the breakwater. Site and tower closed. Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-18460.
* Manistee North Pierhead (3)
1927 (station established 1894). Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 39 ft (12 m) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery; 300 mm lens. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof and gallery are black. Fog horn (blast every 15 s) as needed. The lighthouse is linked to shore by the pier and by a narrow catwalk, which was restored in the early 1990s. A 2022 photo is at right, Katy Silberger has a good 2011 photo, Pepper has a fine page for the lighthouse, Joseph Wisdom has another good photo of the lighthouse and catwalk, Benjamin Judah has a 2018 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse was built on the south pier in 1875 and relocated to the north pier in 1894; it is seen on the south pier in a historic photo from the National Archives. The Coast Guard has a 1914 photo of the second (1900) lighthouse. In 2009 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. The City of Manistee applied for ownership in partnership with the Manistee County Historical Museum and ownership was transferred on 30 June 2011. In 2013 the state granted $20,000 to fund a historic structures report on needed restoration. The exterior of the lighthouse was repaired and repainted in spring 2016. Funds were being raised for restoration of the interior. In January 2025 City Council transfered management of the lighthouse to the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (now Lakeshore Keepers). The Association announced that the lighthouse would open to tours in 2026 following about $150,000 in restoration of the ineterior. The Museum provided nearly $30,000 toward the restoration. Volunteers will provide tours during one week or two week stays; they will be housed in an onshore building leased by the city. Located at the end of Fifth Avenue (extension of Memorial Drive) off US 31 in downtown Manistee. Accessible by walking the pier. A nearby city park provides parking. Site open, tower closed. Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Owner: City of Manistee. Site manager: Lakeshore Keepers (Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-468; USCG 7-18450.

North Pierhead Light, Manistee, July 2022
Instagram photo by Michigan Girl
* Portage Lake North Pierhead (2 ) (relocated)
1930. Reactivated (inactive 1985-2015, now privately maintained and unofficial); focal plane about 50 ft (15 m); continuous (?) white light. Approx. 45 ft (14 m) square skeletal tower with an equipment shed in the base, mounted on a square concrete base. Lighthouse painted white, base red. Frank Post's 2024 photo is at right, Dawn Bolton has a 2021 photo, Dawn Carlson has a sunset photo, and Google has a satellite view. When this light was replaced in 1985 it was relocated to the Voyager’s Cove Marina in Manistee, where it stood until the marina was demolished in 1997. It was then purchased by the Portage Lake Association and moved to Domres Construction in Norwalk for restoration. Several possible locations for the lighthouse were considered and rejected; eventually it was installed in July 2011 at the boat launching ramp at North Point Park, on the north side of Portage Lake in Onekama Township. It was relighted on 5 July 2015. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Portage Lake Association. Site manager: Onekama Township. ARLHS USA-655.
* [Portage Lake North Pierhead (3)]
1985 (station established 1891). Active; focal plane 32 ft (10 m); green flash every 4 s. 20 ft (6 m) round cylindrical "D9" steel tower, painted white with a single green band, mounted on a square 1-story concrete base. Fog horn (blast every 15 s) on demand. David Bellmore has a photo and Google has a satellite view. The original light here was a square wood tower; it was replaced by the skeletal tower (previous entry) in 1930 and by the present tower in 1985. Located at the end of the pier at Portage Point off MI 22 about 10 miles south of Arcadia. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-656; USCG 7-18415.

Inland Lighthouse: Ionia County
* Jordan Lake
1938. Inactive. 37 ft (11 m) hexagonal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story residence. Originally painted white, the tower is now covered with a fake stone veneer. Justin Varner has a photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse was built as a free-standing tower by Ernest G. York as part of a boat-rental and beach-concession business. A red flashing light was displayed for many years. Lighthouse Digest has a historic postcard view. Located on Lakeview Drive in Lake Odessa, off MI 50. Site and tower closed (private property), but the lighthouse can be seen from nearby. Owner/site manager: private.

North Pierhead Light, Portage Lake, June 2022
Google Maps photo by Frank Post
 

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Checked and revised December 27, 2025. Lighthouses: 20. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.