Little Sable Point Light facts for kids
 |
|
| Listed in National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location | Ten miles south of Pentwater, Michigan on Lake Michigan, Little Sable Point, Golden Township, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°39′6″N 86°32′20″W / 43.65167°N 86.53889°W |
| Year first constructed | 1874 |
| Year first lit | 1874 |
| Automated | 1955 |
| Foundation | 109 wooden piles, driven into sand |
| Construction | Rust brick, Italianate bracketing |
| Tower shape | Frustum of a cone |
| Markings / pattern | Red brick, natural (orig. white), black trim and lantern |
| Height | 107 feet (33 m) |
| Focal height | 115 feet (35 m) |
| Original lens | Third-Order Fresnel lens |
| Intensity | 40,000 candlepower |
| Range | 15 nautical miles; 27 kilometres (17 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing white, 1 flash every 6 sec. |
The Little Sable Point Light is a tall lighthouse in Michigan, near a town called Pentwater. It stands proudly on the shore of Lake Michigan, close to Silver Lake State Park.
This lighthouse was designed by a famous engineer named Col. Orlando M. Poe. People often call it a "classic Poe tower" because of its strong design. It has a very solid base made from many wooden poles driven deep into the sand, topped with stone. The walls of the tower are very thick at the bottom, making it super strong.
Contents
History of the Little Sable Point Light
Why Was the Lighthouse Built?
Before the lighthouse was built, a ship called the Schooner Pride was lost in 1866. After this, many people asked for a lighthouse to be built in this area. The government agreed to pay for it in 1871.
However, building the lighthouse was delayed until 1874. This was because there were no good roads to bring building materials to the site.
Names of the Lighthouse
The lighthouse was first called "Petite Pointe Au Sable Lighthouse." This name was used on most official papers. In 1910, its name was officially changed. Today, it is usually called "Little Sable Point Light." However, the National Park Service lists it as "Little Point Sable Light."
How the Light Works
The top part of the lighthouse, called the lantern room, holds the light. It has eight fixed glass panels at the bottom. Above these, there are ten panels that spin around. This spinning helps create the flashing light pattern.
In 1954, the lighthouse keeper's house was taken down. This happened when electricity came to the area. The light could then work by itself, so a keeper was no longer needed. You can still see where the house used to connect to the tower.
The Lighthouse's Changing Colors
Before the year 1900, the lighthouse was its natural brick color. The bricks were very strong and held up well against the weather. This was good for the Lighthouse keeper because they did not have to paint it every year.
In 1900, the lighthouse was painted white for the first time. Sailors had complained that the natural brick color was hard to see from far away. It stayed white until 1975. Then, the paint was removed, and the lighthouse returned to its original brick color. The very top of the lantern is covered with a copper roof.
Comparing Little Sable Point Light
The Big Sable Point Light is another lighthouse that is the same height. It is located several miles north of Little Sable Point. You can tell them apart at night because Big Sable has a steady white light. During the day, Big Sable has black and white stripes on its tower.
Visiting the Lighthouse Today
For the first time in over 50 years, the lighthouse opened to the public in June 2006. The last time it was open was in 1949. Now, visitors can climb its 139 steps to the top. From there, you can see the special Fresnel lens that makes the light shine brightly. You can also enjoy amazing views of the area.
The lighthouse is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is from the first weekend in June until the end of September.
It is special because it still uses its original Third Order Fresnel lens. Only about seventy of these lenses are still working in the United States. Sixteen of them are on the Great Lakes, and eight of those are in Michigan.
The Little Sable Point Light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Accessing the Lighthouse
Little Sable Point is located inside Silver Lake State Park, near Mears, Michigan. To get to the lighthouse parking lot, you should take Silver Lake Road to its south end. There, you will find N. Lighthouse Drive. Follow this road for a little over a mile.
The area has a great swimming beach, and you can see beautiful sunsets over Lake Michigan. There are about 200 parking spaces, which are shared with people visiting the beach. Since it is part of a Michigan State Park, cars need to pay an entrance fee. There is also a small fee to climb the lighthouse tower, which helps keep it preserved.
See also
- Lighthouses in the United States
