Ile Aux Galets Light facts for kids
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| Skillagalee Island Light Station circa 1920. | |
 Ile Aux Galets
Location in Michigan
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| Location | SW OF WAUGOSHANCE ISLAND/LAKE MICHIGAN |
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| Coordinates | 45°40′35″N 85°10′23″W / 45.67639°N 85.17306°W |
| Year first constructed | 1888 |
| Year first lit | 1888 |
| Automated | 1969 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Octagonal hourglass |
| Markings / pattern | white w/black lantern |
| Height | 58 feet (18 m) |
| Focal height | 58 feet (18 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 12-inch (300 mm) Tideland Signal ML-300 acrylic plastic lens |
| Range | 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 6 s |
| ARLHS number | USA-399 |
| USCG number | 7-17795 |
The Ile Aux Galets Light, also known as Skillagalee Island Light, is a lighthouse in Lake Michigan. It stands on Ile Aux Galets, a small, low island. This island is often called Skillagalee Island.
The lighthouse is located between Beaver Island and the Michigan mainland. It is about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Cross Village. The light helps warn ships about dangerous reefs and shoals. These underwater hazards are found near Waugoshance Point. Other nearby lighthouses include Grays Reef, Waugoshance, and White Shoal Lights.
The United States Lighthouse Board first used both names for the lighthouse. By 1889, only "Skillagalee" was used. Around 1910, "Ile Aux Galets" became common again. Today, the United States Coast Guard lists it by this name.
Contents
History of the Skillagalee Light
What's in a Name?
The island is home to many ring-billed gulls. Early French explorers named it "Ile aux Galets," which means "Isle of Pebbles." English speakers found the French name hard to say. Over time, "Ile aux Galets" changed into "Skillagalee." By the mid-1800s, the original French name was rarely used.
Why a Lighthouse Was Needed
Many shipwrecks have happened near Skillagalee Island. One important wreck was the A.D. Patchin. This large sidewheeler was 226 feet (69 m) long. On September 27, 1850, strong currents pushed it onto Skillagalee's shore. The crew was saved, but the ship was destroyed by bad weather. This event showed the need for a lighthouse on the island.
Building the Lighthouses
In 1851, money was set aside to build a light on Skillagalee Island. The United States Department of the Treasury built the first lighthouse. However, the location was very exposed to harsh weather. The first lighthouse quickly wore out. It was replaced in 1868.
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1888. The United States Lighthouse Board constructed this 48-foot (15 m) tower. It was equipped with a modern fourth-order Fresnel lens. This is the third lighthouse built on the island. This "handsome" lighthouse shares its design with only one other: Port Sanilac Light on Lake Huron.
Life at the Lighthouse Station
In 1890, the lighthouse's fog signals were improved. They changed from steam sirens to 10-inch (250 mm) steam whistles. A work party delivered the new equipment. The task was finished within a month. The old sirens were then moved to Beaver Island Head Light.
Life was busy for the lighthouse keepers. They had to tend the light and keep the equipment working. They also operated the new steam whistles. In one year, they ran the whistles for 268 hours. This required burning 26 tons of coal! In 1894, the boathouse and landing areas were moved. This was due to the changing water levels in the lake.
Automation and Modern Changes
Lighthouse keepers lived on the island from 1850 until 1969. In 1969, the old Fresnel lens was removed. A United States Coast Guard crew then tore down all the other buildings. These included the fog signal building, the keeper's house, and the boathouse. Only the tower remained.
An automated 12-inch (300 mm) ML-300 Tideland Signal acrylic plastic lens was put in the lantern. This new light is powered by 12-volt batteries. These batteries get their power from solar panels mounted on the tower's railing.
In June 2011, the lighthouse was no longer needed by the Coast Guard. It was made available to groups that could preserve it. This was done under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
Current Status
The Ile Aux Galets Light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its official name on the list is SKILLAGALEE LIGHT STATION. Its reference number is 84001389.
As of July 2015, the lighthouse was for sale through an online auction.
Visiting the Island
You can reach the island by small boat or sea kayak. However, getting close to the island can be dangerous. The weather changes quickly, and there are shallow waters and hidden reefs. There are no places to land or any facilities on the island. The lighthouse itself is closed to visitors.
- "A Tour of the Lights of the Straits." Michigan History 70 (Sep/Oct 1986), pp. 17–29.
