Huron Island Light
Encyclopedia
Huron Island Light is a lighthouse
on Lake Superior
near Big Bay, Michigan
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as Huron Islands Lighthouse in 1975. It is on one of the Huron Islands
Wilderness.
as commerce developed in the area. This location lies astride a critical turning point—for vessels entering Huron Bay, Keweenaw Bay
, or Portage Entry -- and is often shrouded in fog
. Beginning mid-Nineteenth Century, with the copper
boom in the Keweenaw Peninsula
, the Huron Islands were a navigational hazard to vessels following the coast to/from Portage River, Michigan.
In 1860 the side wheeler S.S. Arctic ran into the easternmost of the Huron Islands. The ship was lost, but passengers, crew and cattle were evacuated onto the island—still known as "Cattle Island" to this day from the marooned
beasts. "Even though no lives were lost, the wreck became the final straw in the battle to get a lighthouse in this location."
In 1867, Congress appropriated $17,000 for a lighthouse located in the Huron Islands. The survey crew chose the highest point on Lighthouse Island, the westernmost of the group as the location for the light. With the exception of 205 feet (62.5 m) Grand Island North Light
, this is the highest focal plane in the western Great Lakes
. The lighthouse was constructed in 1868, along with a privy
, oilhouse, boat dock, and tramway, and was first lit on October 20 of that year.
In 1881, two fog signal buildings were constructed about a half-mile away. Originally steam powered, the Steam whistle
s were converted to diaphone
s. Improvements were made in 1887, and again in 1891 to repair damage caused by a lightning strike. The light was upgraded to incandescent oil vapor in 1912, and in the 1930 the entire station was electrified. In 1961, a new barracks building was constructed and a solar-powered light installed. The lighthouse was automated in 1972, and the structure boarded. The light is still an active aid to navigation.
In 2006, the roof of the structure was replaced.
A private group, the Huron Island Lighthouse Preservation Association, P.O. Box 381, L'Anse, Michigan
49946, has been formed with an intent to save the light. It is recognized that this is an uphill battle, as members of the general public neither see the light nor have access to it. The organization is part of the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance.
. Other sister designs include Gull Rock
and Marquette Harbor
lighthouses. The station is 1½ stories tall and built from granite, with an square light tower, 39' in height, integrated into the structure. The original light was an decagonal cast iron
lantern with a 3½-order Fresnel lens.
It is owned by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
.
s nests are visible. This is the only island in the Huron Islands that is open to the public; however the lake is rough, cold, dangerous and punctuated by reefs and shoals, so the three mile trip should be undertaken with caution.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
near Big Bay, Michigan
Big Bay, Michigan
Big Bay is an unincorporated community in Marquette County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any legal status as an incorporated municipality. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 265...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Huron Islands Lighthouse in 1975. It is on one of the Huron Islands
Huron Islands
The Huron Islands are a group of eight small, rocky islands in Lake Superior, located about three miles offshore from the mouth of the Huron River in northwestern Marquette County, Michigan. Together they comprise the Huron National Wildlife Refuge, which was established by President Theodore...
Wilderness.
History
Reefs, shoals and islands presented an increasing danger to freightersCargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
as commerce developed in the area. This location lies astride a critical turning point—for vessels entering Huron Bay, Keweenaw Bay
Keweenaw Bay
Keweenaw Bay is an arm of Lake Superior in North America. It is located adjacent to the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan, to the southeast of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is also the name of a small community near the bay....
, or Portage Entry -- and is often shrouded in fog
Fog
Fog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
. Beginning mid-Nineteenth Century, with the copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
boom in the Keweenaw Peninsula
Keweenaw Peninsula
The Keweenaw Peninsula is the northern-most part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It projects into Lake Superior and was the site of the first copper boom in the United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was roughly 43,200...
, the Huron Islands were a navigational hazard to vessels following the coast to/from Portage River, Michigan.
In 1860 the side wheeler S.S. Arctic ran into the easternmost of the Huron Islands. The ship was lost, but passengers, crew and cattle were evacuated onto the island—still known as "Cattle Island" to this day from the marooned
Marooning
Marooning is the intentional leaving of someone in a remote area, such as an uninhabited island. The word appears in writing in approximately 1709, and is derived from the term maroon, a word for a fugitive slave, which could be a corruption of Spanish cimarrón, meaning a household animal who has...
beasts. "Even though no lives were lost, the wreck became the final straw in the battle to get a lighthouse in this location."
In 1867, Congress appropriated $17,000 for a lighthouse located in the Huron Islands. The survey crew chose the highest point on Lighthouse Island, the westernmost of the group as the location for the light. With the exception of 205 feet (62.5 m) Grand Island North Light
Grand Island North Light
The Grand Island North Light Station is a lighthouse located on the north end of Grand Island near Munising, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.-History:...
, this is the highest focal plane in the western Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. The lighthouse was constructed in 1868, along with a privy
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
, oilhouse, boat dock, and tramway, and was first lit on October 20 of that year.
In 1881, two fog signal buildings were constructed about a half-mile away. Originally steam powered, the Steam whistle
Steam whistle
A steam whistle is a device used to produce sound with the aid of live steam, which acts as a vibrating system .- Operation :...
s were converted to diaphone
Diaphone
For Diaphone, the Noctuid moth species see Diaphone The diaphone was a noisemaking device best known for its use as a foghorn: it could produce deep, powerful tones able to carry a long distance...
s. Improvements were made in 1887, and again in 1891 to repair damage caused by a lightning strike. The light was upgraded to incandescent oil vapor in 1912, and in the 1930 the entire station was electrified. In 1961, a new barracks building was constructed and a solar-powered light installed. The lighthouse was automated in 1972, and the structure boarded. The light is still an active aid to navigation.
In 2006, the roof of the structure was replaced.
A private group, the Huron Island Lighthouse Preservation Association, P.O. Box 381, L'Anse, Michigan
L'Anse, Michigan
L'Anse is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Baraga County. The population was 2,107 at the 2000 census. The village is located within L'Anse Township....
49946, has been formed with an intent to save the light. It is recognized that this is an uphill battle, as members of the general public neither see the light nor have access to it. The organization is part of the Michigan Lighthouse Alliance.
Description
The light station is a duplicate of the one built at the same time on nearby Granite IslandGranite Island (Michigan)
Granite Island is a 2½ acre island in Lake Superior located about northwest of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Posted upon it is the Granite Island Lighthouse, also known as Granite Island Light Station, and is "one of the oldest surviving lighthouses on Lake...
. Other sister designs include Gull Rock
Gull Rock Light Station
The Gull Rock Light Station is an active lighthouse located on Gull Rock, just west of Manitou Island, off the tip of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior...
and Marquette Harbor
Marquette Harbor Light
The Marquette Harbor Light is located on Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan, a part of the Upper Peninsula. It is an active aid to navigation.-History:...
lighthouses. The station is 1½ stories tall and built from granite, with an square light tower, 39' in height, integrated into the structure. The original light was an decagonal cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
lantern with a 3½-order Fresnel lens.
It is owned by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
.
Getting there
The light is accessible only by private or tour boat. Bald EagleBald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s nests are visible. This is the only island in the Huron Islands that is open to the public; however the lake is rough, cold, dangerous and punctuated by reefs and shoals, so the three mile trip should be undertaken with caution.
Further reading
- Efforts to Save Huron Island Lighthouse (October, 1999), from the Lighthouse DigestLighthouse DigestLighthouse Digest is a specialty magazine for lighthouse and maritime history enthusiasts published in East Machias, Maine. Launched in May, 1992, by FogHorn Publishing, it is dedicated to preserving lighthouse history, current and yesteryear, for future generations.-Scope:Coverage includes...
. - Major Effort Tops Huron Island Light (November, 2006) from the Lighthouse DigestLighthouse DigestLighthouse Digest is a specialty magazine for lighthouse and maritime history enthusiasts published in East Machias, Maine. Launched in May, 1992, by FogHorn Publishing, it is dedicated to preserving lighthouse history, current and yesteryear, for future generations.-Scope:Coverage includes...
. - National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
Maritime Heritage Project, Inventory of Historic Lighthouses -- Michigan, Huron Islands Lighthouse. - Roach, Jerry. Lighthouse Central, "Huron Island Lighthouse", The Ultimate Guide to Upper Michigan Lighthouses (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - 2007). ISBN 978-0-9747977-2-4.
- Wagner, John L., Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective -- Huron Island Lighthouse (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1-880311-01-1 ISBN 978-1-880311-01-1.