Sturgeon Point Light facts for kids
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| Sturgeon Point Light in July 2025 | |
| Location | Haynes Township, Alcona County, Michigan, USA |
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| Coordinates | 44°42′45.7″N 83°16′21.8″W / 44.712694°N 83.272722°W |
| Year first constructed | 1869 |
| Year first lit | 1869 |
| Automated | 1939 |
| Foundation | Limestone |
| Construction | Brick |
| Tower shape | Frustum of a cone |
| Markings / pattern | white daymark with red trim |
| Height | 71 feet (22 m) |
| Focal height | 69 feet (21 m) |
| Original lens | Sixth order Fresnel Lens (original), 3½-order Fresnel Lens (current) |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | flash every six seconds |
The Sturgeon Point Light Station is a historic lighthouse on Lake Huron in Haynes Township, Alcona County, Michigan, USA. It was built in 1869 to warn sailors about a dangerous underwater reef. Today, it is a great example of a Cape Cod style lighthouse found on the Great Lakes.
Contents
History of the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse
The lighthouse was built in 1869 by the United States Lighthouse Board. This group was building many lighthouses on the Great Lakes. More ships were sailing, and many were getting lost. Sturgeon Point was chosen because a big reef stretched far into the lake. This reef was a serious danger to ships. The area also had a bay called "Sanctuary Bay." This bay offered a safe place for ships to hide from strong winds and waves.
The lighthouse tower is made of brick and stands about 71 feet (22 meters) tall. It sits on a strong limestone base. The light's height above the water helps sailors figure out their location. The house next to the lighthouse, where the keeper lived, is also made of brick. It was designed in the Cape Cod style. Another lighthouse, Poverty Island Light, built in 1874, looks almost exactly like Sturgeon Point.
The Lighthouse Lens
The original light used a special Fresnel lens. This type of lens helps make the light brighter and sends it farther. Later, it was upgraded to a 3½-order Fresnel lens. This was a very powerful lens for its time. Only a few of these lenses were used in the country, and many were on the Great Lakes. The 3½-order Fresnel lens is still in place and working today. It is one of only about 70 such lenses still used in the United States. Sixteen of these are on the Great Lakes, and eight are in Michigan.
Life-Saving Service and Automation
In 1876, a United States Life-Saving Service station was built next to the lighthouse. This station helped rescue people from shipwrecks. The first lighthouse keeper even became the first captain of the rescue team. In 1915, this station became part of the United States Coast Guard.
The lighthouse was updated in 1939. It was given electricity and became automated, meaning it could run without a keeper. By the 1940s, the Coast Guard removed all personnel. The light, however, continued to shine and still helps guide ships today. The old brick outhouse from 1869 is still there.
Lighthouse Restoration
The keeper's house became run down over time. In 1982, the Alcona Historical Society took over the site. They started a three-year project to restore the buildings. The Sturgeon Point Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Lighthouse History and Shipwrecks
When the lighthouse was built, the area was busy with fishing and timber shipping. Wood products were sent across Lake Huron from nearby towns. Later, ships mostly carried minerals, passing by Sturgeon Point.
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state, with over 150 past and present lights.
The area near Sturgeon Point has seen many shipwrecks. During the Great Lakes Storm of 1913, also known as the "Big Blow," two ships with many lost crew members were thought to have sunk nearby. However, later evidence showed these ships, the John A. McGean and the Isaac M. Scott, actually sank in other locations on Lake Huron. Even so, 15 historic shipwrecks have been identified with their loss near Sturgeon Point.
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse Today
The United States Coast Guard still operates the light at Sturgeon Point. However, the property itself was given to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Alcona Historical Society now runs a museum in the restored historic buildings. The lighthouse is part of the Sturgeon Point State Park.
In 2006, the Coast Guard planned to turn off the light forever. Many people wanted to "Save Our Light" and collected thousands of signatures. Thanks to public support and help from Senator Debbie Stabenow, the light stayed on. It is now a "seasonal private aid to navigation," meaning it operates from April 1 to November 1 each year. The Alcona County Historical Society helps pay for its operation.
The area around the lighthouse is home to many plants like sea grasses, goldenrod, and wild strawberry. You can also see birds like gulls, cormorants, killdeer, loons, and even bald eagles.
Visiting the Lighthouse and Museum
- The lighthouse is located in Sturgeon Point State Park, a Michigan state park.
- The Alcona Historical Society maintains and operates the lighthouse and museum. They work hard to raise money for its upkeep and restoration.
- You can climb the lighthouse tower during the summer for a small fee. The museum is also open to the public, supported by donations.
- On the grounds, you can visit the Old Bailey School. This is a One-room school house from 1907 that was moved there in 1998.
- The Alcona Historical Society holds a strawberry social at the Bailey School in late June. They also host the annual Sturgeon Point Light Station Sanctuary Bay sailboat race in early August. Both events help raise money for the society.
- Michigan is a leader in lighthouse preservation. The state provides grants to local groups like the Alcona County Historical Society. These groups and their volunteers work to save and restore lighthouses across Michigan.
See also
- Lighthouses in the United States
