Martin Reef Light Station facts for kids
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 Martin Reef Light Station
Location in Michigan
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| Location | N Lake Huron, 4.3 miles (6.9 km) S of Cadogan Point |
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| Coordinates | 45°54′48″N 84°8′54″W / 45.91333°N 84.14833°W |
| Year first lit | 1927 |
| Deactivated | N/A |
| Foundation | crib |
| Construction | reinforced concrete & steel |
| Tower shape | square |
| Markings / pattern | white with red roof |
| Height | 52 feet (16 m) |
| Focal height | 65 feet (20 m) |
| Original lens | fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 7.9-inch (200 mm) acrylic lens |
| Range | 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) |
| Characteristic | FI R 10s |
| ARLHS number | USA-480 |
| USCG number | 7-12205 |
The Martin Reef Light Station is a lighthouse found in the northern part of Lake Huron. It is about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) south of Cadogan Point in Clark Township, Michigan. This important lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Contents
Why Was Martin Reef Light Needed?
At the end of the 1800s, more and more iron ore was being shipped from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This caused a huge increase in boat traffic through the Great Lakes. Martin Reef was a very shallow area, sometimes only a few inches deep. This made it a big danger for ships heading towards the Straits of Mackinac.
Early Efforts for a Lightship
In 1896, the United States Lighthouse Board asked for money to build a lightship. A lightship is like a floating lighthouse. It would be placed at Martin Reef to warn ships. Even though they asked many times, Congress did not approve the money until 1906.
Plans were then made for a lightship called LV89. In 1907, a company in Muskegon, Michigan, was hired to build this steel ship. The lightship was finished in 1908. It started its job at the reef at the beginning of the 1909 shipping season.
Building a Permanent Lighthouse
Over the next few decades, ships on the Great Lakes became much larger. Also, the shipping season got longer, even into winter. Lightship LV89 could not stay on duty when the winter ice arrived.
So, in the 1920s, the Lighthouse Service started planning a permanent structure. This new lighthouse would replace the lightship at Martin Reef. Soon, money was set aside for its construction.
Construction and Completion
Work on the new lighthouse began in the summer of 1927. First, the base structure, called a pier, was completed. A temporary light was put up there. Lightship LV89 was then moved to North Manitou Shoal in Lake Michigan. The entire Martin Reef Lighthouse project was finished in the summer of 1927.
Changes Over Time
In 1939, the Coast Guard took over all lighthouses in the country. They installed electric generators at Martin Reef to power the light. At some point, the lighthouse became automated. This means it could run by itself without people living there.
The original Fresnel lens was taken out. A Fresnel lens is a special type of lens that makes the light very bright and focused. It was replaced with a modern acrylic lens. The old Fresnel lens is now on display at the museum at the Point Iroquois Light.
In 2000, the lighthouse was given to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Then, in January 2020, the Martin Reef Light Historical Preservation Society Inc. became the new owner.
What Does Martin Reef Lighthouse Look Like?
The Martin Reef Lighthouse stands on a large concrete base called a crib. This crib is 65 feet (20 m) square and sits in 10 feet (3 m) of water. It is located at the southeast edge of the reef.
The Base and Structure
The crib forms the base for a pier. This pier has storage areas below for things like coal and water. Extra concrete forms a "wave flare" around the pier. This helps protect the lighthouse from waves. The pier structure is about 25 feet (7.6 m) tall from its bottom.
The lighthouse itself is a white, three-story building. It is 25 feet (7.6 m) square. It has a strong steel frame covered with reinforced concrete and iron. The outside is covered with steel. The lighthouse is placed right in the middle of the crib.
Inside the Lighthouse
The first floor of the lighthouse was designed as an engine room. This is where machines would have been kept. The second floor had an office, a kitchen, and a living area for the lighthouse keepers. The third floor contained rooms where the keepers slept.
The Lantern and Light
On top of the lighthouse is a 16-foot (4.9 m) square watchroom. This room is where the keepers would have watched for ships. On top of the watchroom is an octagonal (eight-sided) cast iron lantern with a red roof.
The lantern originally held a flashing white fourth-order Fresnel lens. This lens was made in Paris, France. Today, it has a 200 mm acrylic lens. The lighthouse also had a fog signal that used compressed air to make a loud sound. The Poe Reef Light, built in 1929, looks very similar to the Martin Reef Lighthouse.
