We Didn't Know This Lighthouse Existed!!

The Ontonagon Harbor Lighthouse is a smaller lighthouse than some others in Michigan. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in history. The Ontonagon Harbor Lighthouse is located off M-64 near Ontonagon. It does not have a driveway or road that leads directly to it; instead, you need to enter through a parking area for a riverside park and then follow the signs that lead you to the lighthouse. We had been to Ontonagon a few times before this trip and just realized there was a lighthouse in this town on this trip. Because the Ontonagon Harbor Lighthouse does not sit at the edge of Lake Superior, it is easy to miss. When speaking with a guide from the Ontonagon County Historical Society while at the lighthouse, we learned that the most common question they are asked is , "Why is the lighthouse so far from the water ?". The guide explained that after the breakwaters were built, jetting out into Lake Superior were first built in 1851 because the river was too shallow for the ships to enter the harbor. Over the years, sand and rocks built up on the pier's west side, creating the land between the lighthouse and the shore that can be seen today. The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned this lighthouse in 1964. This lighthouse was placed on the National Register of History Places in 1975. In 2003, a patent was issued officially conveying the lighthouse to the historical society. The Historical Society invested over $100,000 into the lighthouse in 2008 and 2009, restoring it to its 1915 appearance. Watch a short video of our tour of the Ontonagon Harbor Lighthouse here! There is a small fee to take a self-guided tour of the lighthouse. When we visited in mid-October, an excellent former 4th-grade teacher provided history about the lighthouse and the lighthouse keepers and answered questions. We chatted with her for quite a while, and it was easy to see and feel her passion for the lighthouse and the area. All rooms are open, and there is nothing roped off. The antiques used to furnish the lighthouse were beautiful. We could climb the spiral staircase to the top of the lighthouse for a look around. If you are a history buff, particularly a Michigan history buff, you will love visiting this lighthouse. Just walking in gives you a sense of stepping back in time. For more information about this lighthouse and other historical places in Ontonagon County, please visit www.ontonagonmuseum.org .