Our amazing array of lighthouses are part our Michigan DNA. We have nearly 130 of them edging both of our peninsulas and standing sentry on our islands - more than any other place in the U.S.
Some are perched on rocky and remote shorelines. Others flank sandy beaches and have become Instagram beauty spots. A few look like castles, while some are stocky and built purely to withstand the lashing of Great Lakes’ waves.
National Lighthouse Day falls on Wednesday, Aug. 7 this year. But in Michigan, every day can be a celebration of these life-saving landmarks.
And many continue to be vacation stops. “Michigan ranks no. 1 nationally with more than 120 lighthouses along our 3,288 miles of Great Lakes coastline,” said Kelly Wolgamott, interim vice president of Travel Michigan.
“National Lighthouse Day provides an opportunity to honor the vital role these historic beacons have played in our state’s rich maritime culture and to celebrate our Great Lakes lighthouses as a source of inspiration to visit Michigan during all four seasons.” Grand Haven south pierhead outer lighthouse. (Cory Morse | MLive.
com) It’s no surprise that Michigan tops the national lighthouse list. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, our state’s maritime industry needed these lights to guide ships and keep crews and cargo safe. These days, many lighthouses continue to have automated lights that serve as navigation aids and are serviced by the U.
S. Coast Guard. Some are owned by local governments, by nonpr.