The need for an underwater
foundation, the isolated site, and the harsh climate made the building
of this station a major engineering feat. Using two Lightship
Tenders and a
dozen other vessels, over 200 men were needed to complete this project
in just four years.
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LOCATION:
West edge of reef, East end of Straits of
Mackinac, NW end of Lake Huron
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CURRENT
TOWER LIT: 1874
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CURRENT
USE: Active aid to navigation
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AUTOMATED:
1972
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FOUNDATION
MATERIALS: Cofferdam protected by a crib /
Limestone
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LIGHTHOUSE
MATERIALS: Stone
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TOWER SHAPE: Conical --- 86
ft. tall
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COLOR(S)/MARKINGS/PATTERN:
Natural with red trim
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ORIGINAL LENS: Second Order,
Fresnel 1874 --- it was removed in 1982 and is on display in the Great
Lakes Historical Society Museum in Vermilion, Ohio
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NEAT CHARACTERISTICS: This light is one of the
best specimens of monolithic stone masonry in the US. Thirty-four
feet up the tower is solid and the rest is hollow. It was also 1
of only 5 Great Lakes lights that had a Second Order, Fresnel Lens ---
no Great Lakes lights had a First Order, Fresnel Lens.
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