Granite Island

Type:
Year Established:
1869
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
Granite Island
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2003
Photo Credit:
Mike and Carol McKinney
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
NW END GRANTITE ISLAND/LAKE SUPERIOR
Latitude:
46° 43'14"
Longitude:
87° 24'29"
City / Town:
MARQUETTE
U.S. State:
Michigan
Location County:
MARQUETTE
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. Granite Island
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1869
Tower Construction Material:
GRANITE
Tower Foundation:
ROCK
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
93 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
34 FT
Tower Shape:
SQUARE
Fog Signal Building?:
Yes
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1910
Fog Signal Bldg Construction Materials:
STEEL
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1869
Keeper's Quarters Style:
ATTACHED TO TOWER
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
GRANITE/LIMESTONE
Other Structures:
BRICK OIL HOUSE (1905), PRIVY

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
REMOVED
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1869
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1865: Congress approved lighthouses for Granite Island and Huron Island.

  • 1867: Government condemned the land in order to acquire it for the Granite Island lighthouse.

  • 1867: $20,000 appropriated for lighthouse.

  • 1869: Lighthouse lit for 1st time.

  • 1879: Fog signal built. The bell used was the same one that had previously been removed from Thunder Bay Island lighthouse.

  • 1937: Boathouse and boat destroyed during the winter.

  • 1939: Lighthouse automated.

  • 1999: Lighthouse sold, along with the entire island, into private hands.

Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 20, 2017