Copper Harbor Light facts for kids
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| Location | 9879 Woodland Rd. (Grant Township), Copper Harbor, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 47°28′28.1″N 87°51′36.9″W / 47.474472°N 87.860250°W |
| Year first constructed | 1848 |
| Year first lit | 1866 |
| Automated | 1919 |
| Tower shape | square |
| Markings / pattern | White skeleton tower w/black lantern |
| Height | Tower - 42 feet (13 m) |
| Focal height | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), 12-inch (300 mm) (current) |
| Range | 21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi); 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) adjacent tower |
| Characteristic | Fl Green, 6 sec |
The Copper Harbor Light is a historic lighthouse located in Copper Harbor, Michigan, USA. It stands on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula. This lighthouse is part of Fort Wilkins Historic State Park. It is recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of the Copper Harbor Light
The Copper Harbor Lighthouse stands on a point of land that curves around the harbor. This lighthouse was super important for shipping copper from the Upper Peninsula. Many ships also brought new people, supplies, and tools to the area.
Building the First Lighthouse
Money to build the first lighthouse was approved in 1847. The first tower was built in 1848. It looked similar to the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse. The stone parts of this first lighthouse were taken down. These stones were then used as the base for a new lighthouse built in 1866.
The Current Lighthouse Structure
The house where the lightkeeper lived is still standing from the first lighthouse. A better lighthouse, which is also still there, was built in 1866. This was three years before the Copper Harbor Front Range Light and the Copper Harbor Rear Range Light were put in place. The steel light tower that is used today started working in 1933.
The lighthouse station officially began in 1849. A special Fresnel lens was put in place in 1856. The current tower first lit up in 1866. It is not used for navigation anymore. The light was made automatic in 1919. It was turned off in 1933. The lighthouse is made of brick with a stone and timber base. The tower is square. It is its natural brick color with a black top. The keeper's house is connected to it.
Changes to the Light Itself
In 1933, the actual light was moved from the lighthouse building. It was placed on a nearby white metal tower. This tower is 62-foot (19 m) tall. The light on this tower shines from 90 feet (27 m) above the water. It can be seen up to 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) away.
Historic Recognition
On February 22, 1974, the Copper Harbor Lighthouse was named a Michigan State Historic Site. Later, on June 7, 2012, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Visiting the Lighthouse Today
The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is currently managed by the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. You can visit it during the summer months. It has a museum inside that teaches about the lighthouse and the history of shipping on Lake Superior.
Other Buildings and Tours
Other buildings at the site include an old house from 1849. This house was used for storage and to keep oil for the light.
You can take a tour of the lighthouse. The tour includes a boat ride on a wooden boat. The boat leaves from the main dock in Copper Harbor. It usually takes about 15 minutes to reach the lighthouse point.
See also
- Lighthouses in the United States
Images for kids
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Original Lighthouse, U.S. Coast Guard Archive Photo
