National Register of Historic Places

Thunder Bay Island Light Station

Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan
Listed
July 18, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84001371

About this property

Thunder Bay Island Light, located on Thunder Bay Island's southeast tip, is one of the oldest operating lighthouses in Michigan. The third operating U.S. lighthouse in Lake Huron was built here in 1831, but it disintegrated almost at once and was rebuilt in 1832 of local limestone. This 40-foot (12 m) 1830s light tower was raised 10 feet (3.0 m)) to a height of 50 feet (15 m) in 1857, and sheathed with brick. A fourth order Fresnel lens was installed. This 1857 light tower is the current Thunder Bay Island Light, although the tower has been further altered and is currently 63 feet (19 m) high. A fog bell was installed in 1858, and the lightkeeper's house was rebuilt in 1868. A steam-powered fog horn was added in 1871, and a fog signal building sheltering the fog signal apparatus was constructed in 1892. The lighthouse was staffed during the seasons of Great Lakes navigation from 1832 until the staff was replaced by automation in 1983, more than 150 years later.

Location

Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan
45.03723, -83.19442

Categories

COMMERCEENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
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.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Alpena Light
Civil War
11.3 mi
IOOF Centennial Building
Industrial
11.8 mi
Besser, Herman and Hattie (Ely), House
Industrial
12 mi
Bingham School
Industrial
12.2 mi
Alpena County Courthouse
Industrial
12.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Thunder Bay Island Light Station listed on the National Register?

Thunder Bay Island Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 18, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Thunder Bay Island Light Station?

Thunder Bay Island Light Station is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Thunder Bay Island Light Station?

The period of significance for Thunder Bay Island Light Station is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Thunder Bay Island Light Station?

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