Pointe aux Barques Light facts for kids
| Location | Port Hope, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°01′24″N 82°47′36″W / 44.02333°N 82.79333°W |
| Year first constructed | 1848 (original light) |
| Year first lit | 1848 |
| Automated | 1958 |
| Foundation | Dressed stone and timber |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Markings / pattern | White with black and red trim |
| Height | 89 feet (27 m) |
| Focal height | 93 feet (28 m) |
| Original lens | Third order Fresnel lens with bullseyes (original), DCB 224 Carlisle & Finch Aerobeacon (current) |
| Range | 28 nautical miles (52 km; 32 mi) |
| Characteristic | 20 sec./ .2" fl., 4.8" ec.; .2" fl. 14.8" ec. |
The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse (pronounced "point-uh-BARKS") is a working lighthouse in Huron County, Michigan. It stands on the shores of Lake Huron, at the tip of an area known as "the Thumb."
Built in 1848, it is one of Michigan's oldest active lighthouses. Its name comes from French, meaning "point of little boats." This name describes the shallow waters nearby, which were dangerous for larger ships.
Contents
Why Lighthouses Were So Important
In the mid-1800s, most people traveled by sailing ships. There were not many roads, and only a few steamships were on the Great Lakes. Sailors used simple tools like a compass to find their way.
Ships sailing from Detroit and the St. Clair River would soon lose sight of the Fort Gratiot Light. They then began a risky journey north along the Lake Huron shore. The next lighthouse was far away at Thunder Bay Island, over 150 miles (240 km) north.
Any ship sailing up the Lake Huron coast faced a big risk. A reef, or shallow rocky area, stretched out from Pointe aux Barques. This reef was only about two feet deep and reached almost two miles into Lake Huron. Ships could easily get stuck there.
Pointe aux Barques was also a key turning point for ships heading to the Saginaw River. A lighthouse was built at the mouth of the Saginaw River in 1841. But ships still needed to be careful to avoid the Pointe aux Barques reef on their way to Saginaw Bay.
Building the First Lighthouse
The lighthouse was meant to be built near the northwest point of The Thumb. However, it ended up being built about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east/southeast in what is now Huron Township.
In 1847, President James K. Polk approved $5,000 to build the first lighthouse. The first keeper, Peter Shook, and his family moved in during 1848. Sadly, the keeper's house burned down in 1849.
The first light tower was lit for the 1848 shipping season. But it was not built very well. It needed to be replaced after only 10 years.
The Current Lighthouse Structure
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1857. It is a white brick tower, 89 feet (27 m) tall. Its light shines from 93 feet (28 m) above Lake Huron.
A special Fresnel lens inside the tower would spin, flashing every two minutes. This light could be seen as far as 14 nautical miles; 26 kilometres (16 mi) out on the lake. The tower is connected to a two-story brick house where the lighthouse keeper lived.
The new, taller light helped guide ships away from the dangerous reef. But shipwrecks still happened. So, in 1875, a United States Life Saving Service station was built near the lighthouse. This station helped rescue sailors in trouble.
Upgrades Over the Years
In 1908, a house for an assistant keeper was added. The light itself was improved in 1914 with a brighter lamp. This made the light visible up to 18 miles (16 nmi; 29 km) over the lake.
More protection came in 1918 with a lighted bell buoy. This buoy was placed about two and a quarter miles offshore at the end of the point.
Electricity arrived at Pointe aux Barques in 1932. The light became very powerful, shining with 120,000 candlepower. In 1939, the Coast Guard took over responsibility for lighthouses. This led to the lighthouse becoming fully automated.
Around 1950, the old Fresnel lens was replaced. New, powerful DCB-224 aero beacons were installed, shining with 1,000,000 candlepower! These modern lights are very effective at guiding ships.
Honoring History: Michigan Historical Marker
On August 5, 2007, a special Michigan Historical Marker was placed at the lighthouse. Cindy Krueger, whose great-great-great-grandparents were Peter and Catherine Shook (the first light keepers), helped present the marker.
The State Historic Preservation Office gave a grant to help restore the lighthouse. This money came from selling "Save our Lights" license plates. The county also received another grant for restoration work.
Since 1955, over 1,500 historical markers have been placed across Michigan. These markers are paid for by donations. The Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Society donated money for this marker.
The words on the marker tell an important story:
Point aux Barques Lighthouse
The Point aux Barques Lighthouse and Lifesaving Station helped sailors for over 100 years, starting in 1847. That year, the U.S. Lighthouse Service built the first lighthouse here. It marked the turning point from Lake Huron into Saginaw Bay and warned of shallow waters. Catherine Shook became Michigan’s first female light keeper after her husband, Peter, drowned in 1849. In 1857, the lighthouse and house were replaced with the current 89-foot tower and attached house. In 1908, the brick assistant keeper’s house was built. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1934. Five years later, the last keeper retired. The lifesaving station, which had 15 buildings, was also closed.
Pointe aux Barques Today
The 1857 lighthouse tower and the keeper's house are still standing. The 1908 assistant keeper's house and a round iron oil house are also there.
The keeper's house is now a museum. One room shows items about the lighthouse, its history, and the people who worked there. You can see old documents and pictures. Another room tells the stories of the many shipwrecks that happened in the local waters.
After the lighthouse became automated, the land was given to Huron County in 2003. The tower is still an active light for ships, but it is not open to the public. There is a campground near the lighthouse, where an old Life Saving Service station used to be.
In 2003, students from Western Michigan University did an archeological dig at the site. They found proof of an earlier lighthouse structure from the 1840s. The lighthouse was also repaired a lot in 2005.
In 1972, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, there are two museums on site: "THE KEEPERS OF THE LIGHT" and "THE THUMB UNDERWATER PRESERVE." The original Fresnel lens from Pointe aux Barques is on display at the museum in Huron City.
The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Society (PaBLS) was started in 2002. This group works to protect and restore the lighthouse and its museum. In 2008, a big restoration project on the outside of the lighthouse was finished.
In 2017, two buildings from the Life-Saving Service were moved closer to the lighthouse. These buildings were originally built along the shore. They had been moved to the Huron City Historic District in 1964 before returning closer to their original home.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The lighthouse is located off M-25. It is about seven miles (11 km) north of Port Hope and 11 miles (18 km) south of Port Austin on Lighthouse Road. It is part of a Huron County park.
A campground is right next to the lighthouse. Visitors can spend a good part of their day exploring the lighthouse grounds and museum. Or they can simply enjoy the beautiful views of the Lake Huron shore.
See also
- Great Lakes Storm of 1913
- Lighthouses in the United States
- The Michigan Historical Marker Web Site
- Port Hope's Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse to Receive Michigan Historical Marker Aug. 5
- National Restoration, Inc.
- Shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm
