Whitefish Point

Type:
Year Established:
1849
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
Whitefish Point
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2005
Photo Credit:
Thomas Tag
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
WHITEFISH BAY/LAKE SUPERIOR
Latitude:
46° 46'17"
Longitude:
84° 57'11"
City / Town:
WHITEFISH
U.S. State:
Michigan
Location County:
CHIPPEWA
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. Whitefish Point
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Tower Established:
1861
Tower Construction Material:
CAST IRON
Tower Foundation:
CONCRETE/PILE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
76 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
70 FT
Tower Shape:
SKELETAL
Fog Signal Building?:
Yes
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1937
Fog Signal Bldg Construction Materials:
BRICK
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1861
Keeper's Quarters Style:
DUPLEX
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
FRAME
Other Structures:
BRICK OIL HOUSE (1910), WOODSHED (1922), 2 GARAGES (1922), STEEL PAINT LOCKER (1890), RADIO BEACON

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
Yes
Current Optic:
DCB-24
Original Optic Type:
THIRD ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1857
Private Aid:
No
Year Automated:
1971
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

Historical Information:

  • 1847: $5,000 appropriated to build the lighthouse.
  • 1848: Construction began on stone tower. The final cost was $8,298.
  • 1849: The light was exhibited for the first time from the lantern.
  • 1857: 4th order Fresnel lens installed.
  • 1861: Construction began on a new pre-fabricated cast-iron tower.
  • 1862: New tower placed in service.
  • 1871: Fog signal building constructed.
  • 1905: New corrugated iron fog signal building built.
  • 1935: Fog signal building destroyed in storm.
  • 1936: Brick fog signal building built.
  • 1968: Fresnel lens removed and DCB224 Aerobeacon installed.
  • 1971: Station automated.
  • 1973: Placed on National Register of Historic Places.
  • 1985: Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum established at site.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017