Pointe Aux Barques is French for "point of the little
boats". This light is perched at the edge of a rocky cliff and
was the first one to guide ships into Saginaw Bay.
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LOCATION: On point, Pointe aux Barques Reef, SW side of Lake
Huron
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CURRENT TOWER LIT: 1857
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CURRENT USE: Active aid to navigation
Keeper's
dwelling houses a historical museum for the light itself, as well as
the Thumb Underwater Preserve --- the museums are open weekends only,
Noon-4pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
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AUTOMATED: 1958 --- USCG sold the land and keeper's dwelling to
Huron County
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FOUNDATION MATERIALS: Dressed Stone / Timber
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LIGHTHOUSE MATERIALS: Brick
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TOWER SHAPE: Conical attached --- 79 ft. tall; (1857 tower
was 89 ft. tall)
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COLOR(S)/MARKINGS/PATTERN:
Yellow
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ORIGINAL LENS: Third Order, Fresnel
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NEAT
CHARACTERISTICS: The first tower at this
site was built from stones collected from the beach of Lake
Huron. This structure could not withstand the harsh winter
weather and began to crack. In 1857 the tower was torn down, and
both the tower and the keeper's dwellings which had burned in 1849 were
rebuilt.
This
station originally included a first class life saving station.
During a horrific storm in 1913, crews saved 33 people from the Howard
M. Hanna which ran aground off the point.
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