Type:
Year Established:
1882
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
Download:
Frying Pan Island MI 2015 TAT.jpeg (241.44 KB)
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2015
Photo Credit:
Thomas Tag
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:
LOCATION
Latitude:
45° 59'10"
Longitude:
83° 53'52"
City / Town:
Detour
U.S. State:
Michigan
Country:
United States
OWNER & ACCESS
Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
Light list data courtesy Gary RiemenschneiderSTRUCTURE
Year Discontinued:
1988
Disposition:
Moved to USCG
Year Tower Established:
1882
Tower Construction Material:
Steel
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
18.5 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
15 FT
Tower Shape:
Conical
Tower Daymark:
White
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
No
OPTICS
Original Optic Type:
6th order Fresnel
Year Original Lens Installed:
1882
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Entered by:
Entered Date:
Jan 15, 2018
Historical Information:
The Frying Pan Light was built on a small island to warn of the Frying Pan Shoal on the St. Mary’s River. It served as a front range light with the light on Pipe Island.
To keep the cost of the light station down, the tower did not have a brick lining, any type of work or storage space or a dwelling for the keeper.
1882: The light was lit in September.
1884: A storage building was added to the station. It was outfitted with a bunk, shelves and cleaning table to accommodate a keeper.
1894: Originally brown the tower was painted white for easier visibility.
1902: The Lighthouse Board requested funds for a more substantial keeper’s quarters since a keeper was living in the storage building. There is no record if the dwelling was ever built.
1988: A pole light replace the tower. The tower was moved to the Sault Ste. Marie Coast Guard station where it was restored and displayed. It remains there today.