About this property
The Charlevoix South Pier Light Station is located on Lake Michigan at the entrance to Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan at the end of the south pier/breakwater of the channel leading to Round Lake in the city of Charlevoix. The first light in Charlevoix was located on the north pier. It was erected in 1884 in order to guide ships to the newly improved Pine River channel. A lifesaving station was built just north of the lighthouse in 1898 and an oil shed was built in 1890. The first tower was 56 feet (17 m) tall, with a 61 feet (19 m) focal height. The original structure survived for 63 years, but due to terminal deterioration the decision was made to replace it in 1947. In 1948 the new steel structure was installed and the light was moved to its current location on the south pier where the lens and lantern from the old structure were transferred to the new one. The skeletal structure and general configuration of this light shares some design elements with the Alpena Light. The South Pierhead light was originally painted Daymark red. In 1965, because the Pine River channel is near a congested area, the Coast Guard vacated the old U.S. Life-Saving Service Station (tearing down the shingled building), and relocated to the grounds of the old Lighthouse Supply Station. Constructed of driven steel piles with concrete and rock fill, wooden buffers were added where needed. These new piers were designed to incorporate hydrodynamic features to protect the harbor area. The rectangular gaps beyond the beach are intended to absorb and break-up inbound wave force, thereby reducing the swells that would travel from the big lake all the way up the channel into Round Lake. The Pine River Channel is believed to be unique in the entire world inasmuch as it has a two-way current. After severe westerly windstorms, waters pushed high into Lake Charlevoix will swiftly flow back out to meet other inbound currents. Small whirlpools and eddies at the harbor mouth are not uncommon, and whitecaps can frequently be observed within the channel on the calmest days. The skeletal north pierhead tower has since been removed. The 12-inch (300 mm) Tideland Signal ML-300 acrylic lens is described as a medium-range modern Great Lakes lens with a maximum range of 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi). The North Pierhead Light is at coordinates 45 19 18 N 85 15 54 W, and its characteristic is Flashing Green 2.5 seconds. The current tower is 20 feet (6.1 m) and it is an active aid to navigation. The former North tower's height is 56 feet, with a focal plane of 61 feet.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light listed on the National Register?
Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 27, 2005.
What type of historic resource is Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light?
Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light?
The period of significance for Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1948.
Can I research the history near Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Charlevoiz South Pierhead Light will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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