Eastern Upper Peninsula

The Candy Cane Lighthouse of the Great Lakes Standing alone in the waters of northern Lake Michigan, White Shoal Light is one of the most recognizable lighthouses in America. Its red and white spiral stripes have earned it comparisons to a candy cane or barber pole. As a result, it is instantly recognizable to boaters and lighthouse enthusiasts alike. Yet White Shoal Light is much more than a striking landmark. Rising 121 feet above the lake, it is the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It is also one of the most impressive engineering achievements ever undertaken by the United… Read More »

At the harbor of St. Ignace, a modern lighthouse now stands where railroad ferries once crossed the Straits of Mackinac. Known as Wawatam Lighthouse, this distinctive steel tower reflects a rare story in Great Lakes maritime history, one shaped by preservation, adaptation, and community vision. From Roadside Landmark to Harbor Light The structure that would become Wawatam Lighthouse was not originally intended for maritime use. It was first constructed in 1998 by the Michigan Department of Transportation as a decorative landmark at a welcome center along Interstate 75 near Monroe. Designed to celebrate the state’s lighthouse heritage, the tower served… Read More »

Along the busy approaches to the Soo Locks, a complex system of range lights once guided vessels through one of the most critical shipping corridors in North America. The Vidal Shoals Range Lights directly supported the growth of the St. Marys River shipping channel and the expanding importance of the canal system connecting Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes. A Canal of National Importance Workers completed the Soo Locks in 1855, transforming transportation on the Great Lakes. By allowing ships to bypass the rapids at Sault Ste. Marie, the locks created a vital link for iron ore, timber, and… Read More »

St. Helena Island Lighthouse rises from the southeastern point of a remote island in the Lake Michigan approach to the Straits of Mackinac. Built in the early 1870s, the light became part of a coordinated effort to guide vessels safely through one of the most heavily traveled and hazardous passages in the Great Lakes. A Strategic Island in the Straits Located about ten miles west of Mackinac Island, St. Helena Island covers roughly two hundred forty acres. Its natural harbor on the north shore has long provided shelter from strong southwesterly storms that sweep across the length of Lake Michigan…. Read More »

Along the western shore of Lake Nicolet, a quiet pair of navigation lights tells the story of one of the Great Lakes’ most important shipping corridors. These are known as the Six Mile Point Range Lights. They were established to guide vessels through the Neebish Channel. This channel is a critical link in the route between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. A River of Growing Importance When the Soo Locks were completed in 1855, they transformed navigation on the St. Marys River. Ships could now bypass the powerful rapids near Lake Superior’s outlet. As a result, this opened… Read More »

Standing in the waters of the Straits of Mackinac, the Round Island Passage Light marks one of the most important navigation routes connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron. Though built later than many of Michigan’s historic beacons, it represents a period when modern technology and changing maritime needs reshaped lighthouse construction on the Great Lakes. A Channel of Constant Movement The Round Island Channel has long served as a key passage for vessels traveling through the Straits. As shipping traffic increased during the late nineteenth century, the need for reliable navigation aids became clear. Constructed in 1895 on nearby Round Island… Read More »

A Private Lighthouse on the St. Marys River Round Island Light sits quietly on Round Island in the St. Marys River, just about a mile from the Ontario border. While many Michigan lighthouses are open to the public or managed by preservation groups, this one tells a different story. It tells a story of river traffic, changing technology, and a remarkable private restoration that gave new life to a long-darkened light. Guiding Ships Between Two Great Lakes The St. Marys River serves as the vital connection between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. After the Soo Locks opened in 1855, ship… Read More »

The Schoolhouse Lighthouse of the Straits of Mackinac Perched on the west shore of Round Island, the Round Island Light—also known as the Old Round Island Point Lighthouse—stands watch over one of the busiest and most treacherous waterways in the Great Lakes. Located directly in the shipping lanes of the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, this lighthouse has long played a critical role. It guides vessels safely through the narrow passage. With ferries passing nearby on their way to and from Mackinac Island, the light remains a familiar and beloved landmark of Northern Michigan. A… Read More »

Guardian of the St. Marys River Point Iroquois Light sits high on a bluff in Chippewa County, quietly watching over one of the most important waterways in the Great Lakes. It marks the division between Whitefish Bay and the western end of the St. Marys River. For more than a century, this lighthouse has guided vessels traveling between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. Today, its story blends Native history, early European exploration, and the evolution of Great Lakes navigation. A Place Steeped in Early History Point Iroquois refers not only to the lighthouse but also to a broader… Read More »

A Quiet Guardian at the Gateway to the St. Marys River Tucked into the busy shipping corridor of the St. Marys River, Pipe Island Light has quietly guided freighters and vessels for well over a century. While rarely seen by the public and now privately owned, this modest lighthouse played a crucial role in safely ushering ships between Lake Huron and the river’s narrow DeTour Passage. Its story is one of careful engineering, dedicated keepers, family sacrifice, and maritime history unfolding just offshore. Location and Early Need for a Lighthouse Pipe Island—also historically known as Round Island because of its… Read More »

Guiding Ships Through the Shallows of Northern Lake Huron If you’ve ever explored the waters near the Straits of Mackinac or gazed out toward the Les Cheneaux Islands, you know Northern Lake Huron is both stunning and unpredictable. Hidden just below the surface are shallow reefs that have challenged Great Lakes mariners for over a century. One of the most notorious is Martin Reef—just inches deep in places. That reef is the reason the Martin Reef Light Station came to be. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, this remote white sentinel has helped guide ships safely… Read More »

A Beacon in the DeTour Passage Just offshore from DeTour Village, in the waters where Lake Huron meets the St. Marys River, sits a tiny scrap of land known as Frying Pan Island. Barely more than a rocky bump in the channel, this island has played a surprisingly big role in the maritime history of Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula. Legend has it that Captain William Thorn, the first mariner to navigate the St. Marys River into Lake Superior, was once stranded here waiting out rough winds. When he came ashore, he found a cast-iron frying pan left behind by Native… Read More »