GRANITE ISLAND
LIGHTHOUSE
State: MICHIGAN
Location: NW END GRANITE ISLAND/LAKE SUPERIOR
Nearest City: MARQUETTE
County: MARQUETTE
U.S.C.G. District: 9
Year Station Established: 1868
Existing Historic Tower:
- Year Light First Lit: 1869
- Is the Light Operational? NO
- Date Deactivated:
- Automated: 1939
- Foundation Materials: ROCK
- Construction Materials: GRANITE
- Markings/Patterns: NATURAL W/BLACK LANTERN
- Shape: SQUARE
- Relationship to Other Structures: ATTACHED
- Tower Height: 40
- Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
- Year Original Lens Installed: 1869
- Present Optic: REMOVED
- Year Present Lens Installed:
- Height of Focal Plane: 96
- Fresnel Lens Disposition:
- Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s): N/A
Modern Tower? YES
- Year Tower Constructed: FIRST IN 1939, SECOND
IN 1995
- Type: STEEL
- Current Optic: SOLAR POWERED
Existing Sound Signal Building? YES
- Year Constructed: 1910 (ORIGINAL 1879)
- Construction Materials: STRUCTURAL STEEL
- Architectural Style: BELL TOWER
- Fog Signal Type: BELL FROM THUNDER BAY ISLAND
(NOW REMOVED)
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES
- Year Constructed: 1868
- Number of Stories: 2
- Architectural Style: ATTACHED TO TOWER
- Construction Materials: GRANITE AND LIMESTONE
Other Structures: BRICK OIL HOUSE (1905)
Current Use: PRIVATELY OWNED (UNDER RESTORATION)
Owner/Manager: PRIVATE OWNER
Open to the Public? NO
Non-NPS Web Site:
LINK
National Register Status: LISTED Reference #83000884
Name of Listing: GRANITE ISLAND LIGHT STATION (U.S. COAST GUARD/GREAT
LAKES TR) On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1983
Miscellaneous:
ONE OF OLDEST SURVIVING LIGHTHOUSES ON LAKE SUPERIOR; BECAME LESS
IMPORTANT TO NAVIGATION IN 1920S WHEN SHIPPING RAN LESS OFTEN BETWEEN
ISLAND & SHORE |
Granite Island from an old postcard. Note the boat house near the
bottom left of the photo.
Granite Island is now privately owned and has been fully restored. The
lighthouse is in excellent condition and the web site to view. Live
cameras can be viewed and you can look at restoration photos. Please click
on this link to be taken to the
Granite Island web site. |
