Michigan Celebrates National Lighthouse Day

Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state in the country, with more than 120 lighthouses keeping watch along the state’s 3,200 miles of freshwater shoreline.

From tall and imposing like the Little Sable Lighthouse near Pentwater to diminutive and stout like the Detroit River Light near Lake Erie, each lighthouse has its own look and style while being originally constructed for the same vital purpose: to help safely guide mariners along the potentially treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.

Where are Michigan’s historic lighthouses? See a map of Michigan’s historic lighthouses here.

“National Lighthouse Day provides us with an opportunity to recognize and honor Michigan’s maritime legacy, exemplified by the state’s more than 120 historic lighthouses,” said Ryan M. Schumaker, Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Officer. “These lighthouses serve as enduring symbols of the Great Lakes’ maritime history and offer a tangible connection to the past. In the present day, Michigan residents can contribute to the continued preservation of these distinctive landmarks through the state’s Save Our Lights license plate program, helping to safeguard a unique and invaluable piece of Michigan’s cultural heritage.”

How You Can Help Preserve Michigan’s Lighthouses

Did you know you can help Michigan’s lighthouses have a brighter future? Every Michigander who owns a vehicle can help preserve Michigan lighthouses. When you upgrade to a Save Our Lights license plate for your vehicle, you show off your love of lighthouses and directly support Michigan’s lighthouse preservation and repair grant fund. More than $3 million has been awarded in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) matching grants for dozens of lighthouse preservation projects and with your help, we’ll have more grants to give in the years ahead. It’s easy: Get the Plate, Save a Light! Get the plate here. 

Now, in addition to getting a vehicle license plate, anyone can directly support the Save Our Lights historic lighthouse campaign by making a financial donation any time of the year. Donate today to help Michigan’s lights shine bright long into the future!

Grant Projects Keeping the Lights Shipshape

As Michigan’s economy continues to grow stronger, several lighthouse preservation projects are currently underway or recently completed using MLAP grant funds. Below, we catch up with some of them and celebrate their progress.

Rock of Ages Light, just west of Isle Royale

Isle Royale National Park is the furthest north site in Michigan, so far out into Lake Superior that it’s actually closer to Minnesota and Canada. Two miles to the west of Isle Royale, ships are guided around a series of rocky shoals and small islands by the Rock of Ages light station. At 132 feet tall, the 1907-built lighthouse is one of the tallest on the Great Lakes and also one of the most remote. The masonry upper portion is perched atop a huge steel and concrete foundation sunk into the rock below.

The masonry exterior of the light was last painted in 1985 and had become covered with lichen, holding moisture against the building. Dramatic freeze-thaw cycles have caused portions of the exterior masonry to crack, allowing more water to enter the structure. Completed in July 2025, crews carefully power-washed the exterior, removing the lichen and grime, and then patched the cracks with an appropriate patching compound. This work will prevent future moisture entry and allow volunteers from the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society (ROAPLS) to continue their efforts to restore the interior. This project has been a joint partnership between the ROAPLS, Isle Royale National Park, and the State Historic Preservation Office. Learn more about the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society.

Grand Haven Range Lights, Grand Haven

A pair of “range” lights have marked the entrance to the Grand River at Grand Haven for over 100 years. The outer light at the end of the pier takes the brunt of what Mother Nature throws, requiring regular maintenance and repair. In 2023, the City of Grand Haven hired specialists to repair exterior concrete wall and deck surfaces, restore the exterior concrete stairs, restore the concrete curb and install new metal flashing on the outer light. In 2025, a follow-up grant for the inner light funded the recent fabrication and installation of missing hatches, restored the lantern door and lantern room interior elements, and refinished stairs, handrails and guardrails. These projects each complete incremental phases in the city’s effort toward eventually opening the lights to the public, in partnership with the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy. Learn more about the Lighthouse Conservancy.

Fort Gratiot Light, Port Huron

The lamp at Michigan’s oldest lighthouse was first lit in 1829, and additional work in the 1860s gave the lighthouse its present form. It is now under the care of St. Clair County Parks and Recreation and open to the public in partnership with Port Huron Museums, with guided tours of the light station and tower climb. An MLAP grant helped to hire a preservation contractor to rehabilitate the watch and lantern rooms at the top of the tower, including repairs to the interior and exterior metalwork, painting, caulking and installing new, historically sized glass in window openings. This work was achieved as another step in the process to restore the entire complex to its 1930s appearance. The work appears minor from the ground, but from the lantern, the improvements are substantial! Learn more about touring Fort Gratiot Light.

Eagle Harbor Light, Eagle Harbor

The present brick lighthouse at Eagle Harbor was built in 1871 and is located near the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Cared for by the Keweenaw County Historical Society (KCHS), the building is open as a museum while the light above is still an aid to navigation. The recent MLAP grant rehabilitated the lighthouse tower, including the replacement of deteriorated brick and selective repointing, repaired damaged plaster on the tower interior, corrected roof and wall water diversion and completed deck and lantern room repairs.

KCHS offers self-guided tours of the Eagle Harbor Light Station Complex, which includes the Lighthouse, Maritime Museum in former Foghorn Building, Keweenaw History Museum and Commercial Fishing Museum. Learn more about visiting Eagle Harbor Light.

Michigan’s iconic lighthouses truly offer something for every traveler – from lighthouse enthusiasts and history buffs to curious tourists looking to get out there and experience one of Pure Michigan’s many gems. Travelers interested in exploring Michigan’s lighthouses can learn more here.