The Lure of the Light

A few lighthouses along Michigan’s shore

I am a pharophilo. For as long as I can remember, lighthouses have fascinated me. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the romanticized drama of a secluded tower shining a light to aid travelers. Maybe it’s the association with wild storms and crashing seas. Maybe it’s the thrill of climbing round and round to the top and stepping out on the balcony to feel the wind. Whatever the reason, I make it a point to visit lighthouses whenever I have a chance. The summer of 2021, I spent a week with my siblings in Manistee, Michigan. With shoreline on four of the five Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie), Michigan has at least 120 lighthouses, more than any other state. During my stay in Manistee, I managed to visit five of them.

Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse

The north pierhead light in Manistee is cast iron, built in 1927. Shown here is the catwalk used to access the light in rough weather. It is one of only four such catwalks still existing in Michigan.

Point Betsie Light

Point Betsie’s Lighthouse and keeper’s residence were built in 1858. The name comes from the French translation of the native name of a nearby river. In French, the name was Pointe Aux Becs Scies (meaning Sawbill Point). Later speakers modified the ‘Becs Scies’ to Betsie. Originally, the tower was a cream-colored brick, but it was painted white in 1900 to help make it visible by day.

Big Sable Point

  • Big Sable Point is at the end of a two mile walk through the shifting dune of Luddington State Park. Built in 1867, the tower is over 100 feet tall.

Petite pointe au sable

Petite Pointe au Sable (or Little Sable) Lighthouse was built in 1874 amid the towering sand dunes of the area south of Luddington. Like the Big Sable tower north of Luddington, this tower is also over 100 feet tall. It still has its original third order Fresnel lens.

Luddington North Breakwater Light

The Luddington North Breakwater light, built in 1924, features an unusual design of steel and reinforced concrete. It is 57 feet tall. The light can be accessed by a half-mile walk along the concrete pier. It was fully automated in 1972.

2 thoughts on “The Lure of the Light”

  1. While I am not a pharophile, I did enjoy visiting the various lighthouses. I had no idea there was so much variety in design and height! I even enjoyed the walks out to the different points, because of the great company.

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