Port Sanilac Light facts for kids
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| Port Sanilac Lighthouse | |
 Port Sanilac Light
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Port Sanilac, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | 43°25′44″N 82°32′24″W / 43.42889°N 82.54000°W |
| Year first lit | 1886 |
| Automated | 1928 |
| Foundation | dressed stone masonry/timber |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Octagonal hourglass |
| Markings / pattern | White with red roof |
| Height | 59 feet (18 m) |
| Focal height | 69 feet (21 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | Fourth order Fresnel Lens |
| Range | 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 10s
1s fl 1s ec. 1s fl 1s ec. 1s fl 5s ec. |
| ARLHS number | USA-651 |
| USCG number | 7-10115 |
The Port Sanilac Light is a historic lighthouse located in Port Sanilac, Michigan. It stands on the eastern side of Michigan's "Thumb" area, right on Lake Huron. This lighthouse is still active today and helps guide ships safely. It is managed by the United States Coast Guard.
Contents
History of the Port Sanilac Light
Why the Lighthouse Was Needed
The coastline between the Fort Gratiot Light and Pointe aux Barques Light is about 75 miles (121 km) long. This area of Lake Huron has many sandbanks and shallow waters. This made it very dangerous for ships to travel, even after the Harbor Beach Light was built in 1875. A 30 miles (48 km) stretch of the coast still had no light at all.
Building the Port Sanilac Lighthouse
It took 18 years to get the money from the United States Congress to build this lighthouse. Finally, the Port Sanilac Light was finished and lit for the first time in 1886. It is about 30 miles (48 km) north of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, which is Michigan's oldest lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built with a base of stone and timber. The tower itself is made of brick and has a unique shape. It looks like an Octagonal "hourglass" near the top. The tower is 14 feet (4.3 m) wide at its bottom and gets narrower towards the top.
The lighthouse cost $20,000 to build. Its special shape was designed by Captain Charles E. L. B. Davis. He was the engineer for the Eleventh District. The design is considered very unique and elegant. The tower is white with a bright red roof.
Unique Design of the Tower
The Port Sanilac Light has a very special design. It shares this design with only one other lighthouse, the Ile Aux Galets Light, also known as Skilligallee Island Light, on Lake Michigan. Instead of using special brackets called corbels to support the top, the Port Sanilac Light uses many layers of bricks. These bricks create the support for the gallery, which is the walkway around the top. There are also four windows that act as a watch room, looking out in all four directions.
The Lighthouse Lens
The top of the Port Sanilac Light tower holds a cast iron lantern room. Inside, there is a special Fourth Order Fresnel lens. This lens was made in Paris by Barbier and Fenestre. The lens and its brass reflector send light out in a 300-degree arc across the lake. The light is 69 feet (21 m) above the water. It can be seen for up to 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi) (about 30 kilometres (19 mi)) in all directions. This helped to light up the dangerous 30 miles (48 km)-gap on the coast.
This lighthouse is one of only 70 places in the United States where a Fresnel lens is still working. Sixteen of these are on the Great Lakes, and eight of those are in Michigan.
National Historic Site
The Port Sanilac Light Station is a very important historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1984. This means it is recognized as a significant part of American history.
The lighthouse area includes five historic buildings. Besides the light tower, there is also the beautiful brick Lighthouse keeper's house. There is also a brick oil house, a wooden outhouse, and a well.
Visiting the Port Sanilac Light
The lighthouse property is private, so you cannot go inside or walk around it freely. However, you can get a great view from the public parking lot nearby. You can also walk down towards the beach and the breakwater. This gives you a good view of the lighthouse and the harbor.
To get there, take
M-25 in Port Sanilac, Michigan. Turn east onto Cherry Street and follow it to the Lake Huron shore. The public parking is at the end of Cherry Street, just south of the lighthouse. The breakwater is a popular spot for taking pictures of the lighthouse.
