Tawas Point (Ottawa Point)

Type:
Year Established:
1853
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
Tawas Point
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
SAGINAW BAY/LAKE HURON
Latitude:
44° 15'14"
Longitude:
83° 27'26"
City / Town:
TAWAS CITY
U.S. State:
Michigan
Location County:
IOSCO
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. Tawas Point (Ottawa Point)
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1876
Tower Construction Material:
BRICK
Tower Foundation:
DRESSED STONE/TIMBER
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
70.5 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
61.5 FT
Tower Shape:
CONICAL ATT TO KEEPERS BY PASSAGEWY
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1876
Keeper's Quarters Style:
ATTACHED TO TOWER
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
RED BRICK

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
Yes
Current Optic:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Private Aid:
No
Year Automated:
1953
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1852: Construction began on a light station on Ottawa Point. A squat 45-foot rubblestone tower was completed at the end of 1852. A small keeper’s quarters was also built. Since the station was completed so late in the “shipping season” the decision was made to wait until the shipping season of 1853 to light it.
  • 1856: Ottawa Point received a Fifth Order lens
  • 1867: The tower was disintegrating. Another natural phenomenon was also at play. Ottawa Point was “growing”. The short tower was of little real use to mariners as it was now almost three quarters of a mile from the end of the point.
  • 1876: Construction began on a new tower. Just like the first tower, it was completed at the end of the season and the onset of winter so lighting was postponed until the following spring. During the winter the Fifth Order lens was removed from the original tower and placed in the newly completed structure.
  • 1891: A new Fourth Order lens was installed.
  • 1902: The name of Ottawa Point officially became Tawas Point.
  • 1922: A house in town was purchased and moved to the site for the assistant keeper.
  • 1935: Electricity arrived.
  • 1953: Lighthouse automated.
  • 2001: Ownership transferred to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources who are currently renovating the property. The light station is located with the Tawas Point State Park and is open to the public. It remains an active aid to navigation.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017