National Register of Historic Places

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan
Listed
July 29, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
76001975

About this property

Fort Gratiot Light , the first lighthouse in the state of Michigan, was constructed north of Fort Gratiot in 1825 by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first U.S. Senators. The Fort Gratiot Light marks the entrance to the St. Clair River from Lake Huron (going south) in the southern portion of Michigan's Thumb. The light is still active, but the federal government transferred ownership to St. Clair County Parks and Recreation (St. Clair County PARC) in 2010. In 2012, St. Clair County PARC partnered with the Port Huron Museums to provide tours and lighthouse tower climbs to the public, which continue to be offered on a seasonal basis for a small fee. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan. There is also a public beach and park on the property, known as Lighthouse Beach. It is across the river from Point Edward Front Range Light.

Location

Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan
43.00630, -82.42245

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

This page lists Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Fort Gratiot Lighthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot
Industrial
0.6 mi
HURON (lightship)
Industrial
1.2 mi
Ladies of the Maccabees Building
Industrial
1.6 mi
Military Road Historic District
Listed
2 mi
Howard Block
Industrial
2.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Gratiot Lighthouse listed on the National Register?

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 29, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Fort Gratiot Lighthouse?

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort Gratiot Lighthouse?

The period of significance for Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Fort Gratiot Lighthouse?

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 Fort Gratiot Lighthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in St. Clair County

Historic places, battles, and census history across St. Clair County.

Explore St. ClairCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Fort Gratiot Lighthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report