Manitou Island Light Station facts for kids
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| Undated USCG photo of the station | |
 Manitou Island Light
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Manitou Island, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 47°25′11″N 87°35′14″W / 47.41972°N 87.58722°W |
| Year first constructed | 1850 |
| Year first lit | 1862 |
| Automated | 1978 |
| Construction | Iron |
| Tower shape | Skeletal with central column |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Height | 42.5 feet (13.0 m) |
| Original lens | Third order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 12-volt solar powered 7.5-inch (190 mm) acrylic optic |
| ARLHS number | USA-470 |
| USCG number | 7-15170 |
The Manitou Island Light Station is a historic lighthouse. You can find it on Manitou Island. This island is located near the tip of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. This lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The Manitou Island Light Station has a tall, open steel tower. It also includes the keeper's house and other small buildings. There are also walkways and foundations.
The Light Tower
The tower's base is about 26 feet (7.9 m) (7.9 m) square. It stands 17.5 feet (5.3 m) (5.3 m) high. On top of this base is a 42.5 feet (13.0 m) (13.0 m) tall open-frame tower. At the very top, there is a ten-sided room called a watch room. Above that is the lantern, which also has ten sides.
You can reach the watch room by climbing a circular staircase. This staircase is made of iron and lined with wood.
The first light used a special lens called a Third Order Fresnel lens. It was made in Paris and had six panels. Each panel had a special "bull's eye" prism to focus the light. The lens used today is also a Third Order Fresnel lens. It has four panels.
The Keeper's House
The keeper's house is where the lighthouse keeper and their family lived. It is a two-story building with ten rooms. It sits on a strong stone foundation. The outside walls are covered with shingles. Inside, some of the original doors and wood details are still there.
History of the Lighthouse
The first lighthouse on Manitou Island was built in 1850. It was a tower made of stone.
Building the Current Lighthouse
In 1861, the current iron tower replaced the old stone one. This new tower was one of three iron lighthouses built that year. The keeper's house was also built in 1861.
A fog signal was added in 1871. This signal helped ships find their way in foggy weather. New buildings for the fog signal were built in 1875. These signals were updated in 1899.
Later, more buildings were added. An oil house was built in 1895. A boathouse was added in 1901. In 1930, a new concrete building for the fog signal was constructed. The Manitou Island Light is the oldest iron skeletal lighthouse tower on the Great Lakes.
Modern Use and Public Access
The lighthouse became automated in 1978. This means it no longer needed a keeper to operate it. It is still used today to help guide ships.
In 2004, the Keweenaw Land Trust took over the lighthouse. They also acquired the land around it from the United States Government. This happened under a special law called the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act.
Today, the area around the lighthouse is open to visitors. People can enjoy activities like camping, rock collecting, hiking, boating, sea kayaking, fishing, and sightseeing.
