Lighthouse of the Week, June 29 - July 5, 2025: Charity Island Lighthouse, Michigan, USA

 

In case you hadn't heard before, the state of the United States that has the most lighthouses is not on an ocean; it's the state of Michigan, which lies betwixt Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Take a look at a map; Michigan has a lot of coastline. And since the lakes are naviagable, there was and still is a lot of commerce on the lakes. So nobody wanted to hit a poorly-placed rock or get lost on the waters of either of these Great Lakes. Hence, lots of lighthouses (and even though there are, a lot of ships were still lost or went down). 

Now, this is an interesting case, because it is privately owned and not in particularly great shape. But it's still there.

So where is there? Here is there. It's in the middle of the large entrance to Saginaw Bay, the body of water that makes the lower part of the state look like a mitten.

Now, about this lighthouse. The Lighthouse Directory (click that for all the links, find the entry) has the basics. If you want a longer compilation of history, go to the Lighthouse Friends link below the basics.

"1858. Inactive since 1939; charted as a landmark. 39 ft (12 m) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, originally painted white, lantern black. ... Gravely endangered by decay and neglect, this lighthouse is a long term resident on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. Charity Island is the largest island in Saginaw Bay. Sold into private hands in 1963, the island has been owned by a series of developers but all development plans fizzled. In 1997 developer Robert Wiltse sold most of the island to the Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion in the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. He sold additional land to the Michigan Nature Conservancy but retained 5.5 acres (2.4 ha) including the site of the former keeper's house. The ruined keeper's house (seen in a photo by Charles Bash) was demolished in the spring of 2003. Wiltse then built a modern house on the site of the keeper's house. ... Located at the northwest point of the island, in the middle of the entrance to Saginaw Bay."

Lighthouse Friends: Charity Island, MI

Pictures of this one are below. I hope they figure out a way to fully renovate it.