Manistee Pierhead lights facts for kids
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| Manistee Breakwater Lighthouse | |
 North Pierhead Light
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Manistee, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 44°15′06″N 86°20′47″W / 44.2517°N 86.3464°W |
| Year first constructed | 1870 |
| Year first lit | 1870 |
| Automated | 1927 |
| Foundation | pier |
| Construction | Cast Iron |
| Tower shape | cylindrical |
| Markings / pattern | white with black lantern |
| Height | 39 feet (12 m) |
| Focal height | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Original lens | fifth order Fresnel Lens |
| Current lens | 12-inch (300 mm) Tideland Signal ML-300 Acrylic Optic |
| Intensity | 5000 candlepower |
| Range | 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) |
| Characteristic | Iso W 6s |
| Fog signal | HORN: 1 blast every 15s (2s bl)
Operates from April 1 to November 1 |
| ARLHS number | USA-468 |
| USCG number | 7-18450 |
The Manistee Pierhead lights are two important lighthouses in Manistee, Michigan. They stand on the north and south piers, helping boats find their way into the harbor. Manistee is known as "Lake Michigan’s Victorian Port City."
Contents
History of the Manistee Lighthouses
Early Days and the Great Fire
The very first lighthouse in Manistee was built on the south pier in 1870. But sadly, it burned down just a year later, on October 8, 1871. This was part of the "Great Fire of 1871," which also destroyed much of Manistee town.
It's interesting to know that other big fires happened on the same day. These included the Great Chicago Fire, the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin, and fires in Port Huron and Holland, Michigan.
Building New Lights
After the fire, two new lighthouses were built in 1875. One was on each pier. Over the years, these lights have been moved many times. They were sometimes moved from the mainland to the piers, or even from the south pier to the north pier. Some lights were taken down and rebuilt completely.
The Current North Pier Lighthouse
The lighthouse you see today is on the north pier. It is made of strong cast iron. This lighthouse was first officially listed in 1927. It looks like a white cylinder, and the lighthouse keeper's house is a separate building.
The original light inside was a "Fifth Order Fresnel Lens." This type of lens is very good at making light shine far away. The tower has also been rebuilt as the pier itself was made longer. Other changes included where the fog horn was placed and how it worked.
The current tower is about 39 feet (12 m) tall. It has a special walkway called a "catwalk." This catwalk is one of only four still existing in the entire state of Michigan! The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The top of the tower has a ten-sided steel lantern. The light uses a bright 5,000 candlepower electric bulb. It flashes a "group occulting white light" every 30 seconds. This means the light is on for most of the time, but goes dark for short periods. Its light shines from 55 feet (17 m) above the water and can be seen for 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) on a clear day.
The fog horn is a "Type C" diaphone. It is powered by an electric machine inside the tower. It makes three loud blasts every 30 seconds to warn boats when it's foggy. There is also a radio beacon that sends out signals.
The north pier light is close to the Manistee Coast Guard station. It is also within shouting distance of the Manistee South pier light.
The South Pier Light
The south pier has a 37-foot (11 m) tall steel tower that helps guide boats. This tower was built in 1927 when the main lighthouse was moved to the north pier.
New Ownership
In 2009, the Manistee Pierhead Light was put up for sale. This was part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, which helps protect old lighthouses. On June 30, 2011, the City of Manistee took ownership of the light. The Manistee County Historical Museum now helps take care of this important landmark.
Finding the Lighthouses
To visit the lighthouses, you can go west on Memorial Drive from 
US 31 for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km). You will reach the Fifth Ave. Beach and Park.
