The 20 Oldest Lighthouses in Michigan

Ranked by the construction year of the structure standing today, for every lighthouse in Michigan that we could confirm is still standing. Fort Gratiot Light leads, built 1829; number 20 is Sand Point Light, built 1867. Dates or measurements marked uncertain in the source are left out rather than guessed Each entry was checked against current sources (park services, historic registers, preservation societies), and anything demolished, replaced or uncertain is left out. Each entry links to its own page with coordinates, sources and image licences.

1. 

   1. Fort Gratiot Light

   Built 1829 · St. Clair County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Nuggehalli2015 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

2. 

   2. Old Presque Isle Light

   Built 1840 · Presque Isle County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Mason Christensen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

3. 

   3. Waugoshance Light

   Built 1851 · Emmet County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Ddieffen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

4. 

   4. Rock Harbor Light

   Built 1855 · Keweenaw County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Ray Dumas / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

5. 

   5. Charity Island Light

   Built 1857 · Arenac County, Michigan

   Photo: Charles W. Bash / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

6. 6. Pointe aux Barques Light

   Built 1857 · Huron County, Michigan · National Register

7. 

   7. Beaver Island Head Light

   Built 1858 · Charlevoix County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Ruthgullekson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

8. 

   8. Grand Traverse Light

   Built 1858 · Leelanau County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Rachel Kramer from Grandville, MI, United States / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

9. 

   9. Point Betsie Light

   Built 1858 · Benzie County, Michigan · National Register

   Photo: Ken Bosma / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

10. 

    10. St. Clair Flats Rear Range Light

    Built 1859 · St. Clair County, Michigan

    Photo: US Coast Guard / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

11. 11. Manitou Island Light Station

    Built 1861 · Keweenaw County, Michigan · National Register

12. 

    12. Whitefish Point Light

    Built 1861 · Chippewa County, Michigan · National Register

    Photo: Browermd / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

13. 13. Peninsula Point Lighthouse

    Built 1865 · Delta County, Michigan · National Register

14. 

    14. Copper Harbor Light

    Built 1866 · Keweenaw County, Michigan · National Register

    Photo: Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

15. 

    15. Marquette Harbor Light

    Built 1866 · Marquette County, Michigan · National Register

    Photo: Dale Fisher, US Army Corps of Engineers / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

16. 

    16. Ontonagon Light

    Built 1866 · Ontonagon County, Michigan · National Register

    Photo: rossograph / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

17. 

    17. Big Sable Point Light

    Built 1867 · Mason County, Michigan · National Register

    Photo: Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

18. 18. Grand Island North Light

    Built 1867 · Alger County, Michigan · National Register

19. 19. Gull Rock Light Station

    Built 1867 · Keweenaw County, Michigan · National Register

20. 

    20. Sand Point Light

    Built 1867 · Delta County, Michigan · National Register

    Photo: Delta County Historical Society. Original uploader was Chadwickb at en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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