Manistee North Pier
About this property
The Manistee Pierhead lights are a pair of active aids to navigation located on the north and south pier in the harbor of Manistee, Michigan, "Lake Michigan’s Victorian Port City." The first light was on the south pier in 1870. Unfortunately, it burnt in the Great Fire of 1871, October 8, 1871, along with the town of Manistee. Coincidentally, Manistee burnt on the same day as the Great Chicago Fire, Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin, and fires in Port Huron and Holland, Michigan. Two lighthouses were built, one on each pier in 1875. Over the years the lights have been moved several times, including moves to and from the mainland, and to and from the south to the north pier. Lights have been torn down and rebuilt. The current tower is located on the north pier. It is constructed of cast iron, and was first listed in 1927. The tower is a white cylinder, and the keeper's house is separate. The original lens was a Fifth Order Fresnel lens. The tower has also been rebuilt as the pier has been extended. Other changes have involved the placement and configuration of the fog horn. The present tower is 39 feet (12 m) tall. The catwalk is one of only four that survive in the State of Michigan. National Register of Historic Places, Reference # 90000718 The tower is capped with a ten-sided steel lantern. The light uses a 5,000 candlepower incandescent electric bulb, and has a flashing mechanism which displays "a group occulting white light" over 30 seconds. Its focal plane is 55 feet (17 m), and is visible for 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) in clear weather. The "Type C" diaphone is powered by an electric compressor housed in the tower, and emits a group of three blasts every 30 seconds. There is also a radio beacon. The northern pier light is located on the same side of the river as the Manistee Coast Guard station, and within shouting distance of the Manistee South pier light. The south pier has a 37-foot (11 m) steel tower navigational aid. This was constructed when the lighthouse was moved to the north pier in 1927. Manistee Pierhead Light was put up for sale under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2009. On June 30, 2011, ownership of the light was transferred to the City of Manistee. The Manistee County Historical Museum will maintain the light. From US 31 go 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west on Memorial Drive, to the Fifth Ave. Beach and Park. Live Webcam Feed, Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse, from Manistee Surf Cam. Aerial photos, Manistee North Pierhead Light, marinas.com. Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.
Location
Categories
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.
Everything a full report reveals about Manistee North Pier
This page lists Manistee North Pier. 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:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Manistee North Pier listed on the National Register?
Manistee North Pier was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 1990.
What type of historic resource is Manistee North Pier?
Manistee North Pier is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Manistee North Pier?
The period of significance for Manistee North Pier is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Manistee North Pier?
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 Manistee North Pier will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Manistee County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Manistee County.
Explore ManisteeCounty ›More historic places in Michigan
Browse all historic places in Michigan.
View Michiganhistoric sites ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Manistee North Pier will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.