As promised, this week's Lighthouse of the Week is the Mission Point Lighthouse, near Traverse City, Michigan.
It is uniquely situated, on the end of Old Mission Point, without which there would just be Traverse Bay, instead of West Traverse Bay and East Traverse Bay. View the map here. Note that it's not too far from Mackinac Island and the Straits of Mackinac.
There's a sad story this year about the lighthouse. 2020 is the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the lighthouse here. The annual Michigan Lighthouse Festival (remember, Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state in the USA) was supposed to be held here because of that. However, they had to push it into 2021.
But hey, we can celebrate here! Let's get some facts on this lighthouse (from the Lighthouse Directory, of course).
"It was established in 1870. Inactive since 1938 but charted as a landmark. 30 ft (9 m) square cylindrical wood tower mounted schoolhouse-style on a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house. ... Famous for its location precisely on the 45th parallel, the lighthouse was discontinued because it fails to warn ships away from extensive shoals north of the point. It was transferred first to the state in the 1940s and then to Peninsula Township in 1948. It served for many years as a park manager's residence, but in 2008 it opened to the public. Volunteer keepers are needed (year round) for stays in the rear of the structure."
I bet there's a video, or a few of them, but I'm being lazy.
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| 45th Parallel Sign |
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| by courthouselover |
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