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South Haven Light

Lighthouse · Van Buren County, Michigan

South Haven Light is a lighthouse which was built in 1872 and is located in Michigan. It is still in operation today. Author: D. R. J. Stiennon
South Haven Light is a lighthouse which was built in 1872 and is located in Michigan. It is still in operation today. Author: D. R. J. Stiennon · Rabbet at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5

South Haven Light is a lighthouse in Van Buren County, Michigan. Michigan has 124 lighthouses on record at Wayfarrow.

It was built in 1903, in the early 20th century, making it the 56th oldest of the 89 in Michigan with a recorded construction date; the tower stands about 35 feet tall (55th tallest of 63 measured in Michigan); its light sits 36 feet above the water; the light characteristic is recorded as FF R, with a range of about 10 nautical miles; it guards Lake Michigan.

Status check, 2026-11: The 1903 metal pierhead tower replaced the original 1872 wooden tower; 35 ft is the USLHS and USCG-data figure, while Lighthouse Friends says just over 36 ft. South Haven Light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It stands at 42.4014° N, 86.2881° W.

Key facts

Current structure built1903
Tower height35 ft
Focal height36 ft
Light characteristicFF R
Range10 nautical miles
Body of waterLake Michigan
Heritage designationNational Register of Historic Places listed place
National RegisterListed
Coordinates42.40139, -86.28806

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Sources and licences

Facts marked "approximately" carry an uncertain date in the source. Text on this page is generated from the sources above; no encyclopedia prose is copied. Last updated 2026-11-05.