Grand Island East Channel Light
Fifth order Fresnel[3]
The Grand Island East Channel Light is a lighthouse located just north of Munising, Michigan and was intended to lead boats from Lake Superior through the channel east of Grand Island into the Munising Harbor. Constructed of wood, the light first opened for service in 1868. The light was very hard to see from Lake Superior, and light maintenance was very difficult so the Munising Range Lights were constructed (Munising Rear Range Light, Munising Front Range Light) and this light was removed from service in 1908[2] or 1913[5][6] (sources vary).
The lighthouse was severely neglected, and was in danger of being washed away due to erosion.[7] The Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse Rescue Committee was officially formed. Private fund raising was undertaken.[8] Restoration efforts (albeit in "rustic form" not pristine as it was in service) were undertaken.[9] The theory for the lack of paint is that it is more picturesque and attractive to tourists and passing photographers.[10]
As two commentators, lamenting the possible loss of this unique light station, noted in Lighthouse Digest:[9]
It is seen and photographed by thousands of tourists via the Picture Rocks Cruises and Grand Island Charters Glass Bottom Boat tours which make it their first stop on their numerous tours. It appears on sweatshirts, tee-shirts, coffee mugs, post cards, advertisements, and calendars. It is positively one of Michigan's most recognizable landmarks. . . .
In 2000, 85 volunteers worked steadily for thirty days, and completed 75% of a 300-foot-long (91 m) seawall to protect the light.[11] In 2000, the light has been restored and the wall completed.[10][12]
It is part of a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #80004835. Name of Listing: HISTORIC ENGINEERING & INDUSTRIAL SITES IN MICHIGAN TR. It is not listed on the state registry.[13]
Access
The most common way to see the light is to take either of the cruises out of Munising (Shipwreck Tour[14] or Pictured Rocks tour), or Grand Island Cruises, all of which pass by this light and pause for photographers.[3] Alternatively, sea kayak tours of Grand Island are a good way to see this light. Daily trips are available from Memorial Day weekend through October 10. Sea Kayaking is a popular method of exploring the island and is the best way to see it, although it is a serious trip in dangerous and cold water, which should not be undertaken lightly or without proper equipment (dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature). Guides are available. The most efficient port of entry for a sea kayak is from the harbor at Munising.[15]
Out of Munising, Shipwreck Tours and Pictured Rocks Cruises offer boat tours[16] that pass closely by this lighthouse. The ferry to tour Grand Island is available, but does not pass by either Grand Island lighthouses. They are located on private property and are not accessible.[10]
The lighthouse is owned privately, and the grounds, dwelling and tower are closed.
See also
References
- ^ Roach, Jerry. The Ultimate Guide to Upper Michigan Lighthouses. Bugs Publishing, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9747977-2-4.
- ^ a b c "Grand Island (East Channel) Lighthouse, Munising, MI (Upper Peninsula)". Lighthouse Encyclopedia. Cape Cod Store. Retrieved 2008-06-18.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c Pepper, Terry. "Grand Island East Channel Light". Seeing The Light. terrypepper.com. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Michigan". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
- ^ Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse at Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy.
- ^ Most Endangered Lighthouse: Grand Island, East Channel Lighthouse, (November, 1999) Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- ^ New Products Help Grand Island East Channel Light Will you help save this lighthouse? (June, 2000). Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- ^ a b Harrison, Timothy and Case, Chris, Last Chance for Grand Island East Channel Light (January, 2000) Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- ^ a b c Anderson, Kraig. Lighthouse Friends, Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse.
- ^ Grand Island East Channel Light—Closer to Rescue April, 2001. Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- ^ Wobser, David, Great Laker Magazine, Grand Island East Channel Range Light, at Archived 2010-04-09 at the Wayback Machine Boatnerd.
- ^ National Park Service Maritime History Project, Grand Island East Channel Light at Inventory of Historic Light Stations Michigan Lighthouses
- ^ Shipwreck Tours, Munising, Michigan
- ^ "Visiting Grand Island and Pictured Rocks". National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ Pictured Rocks cruises. Archived 2010-01-01 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- Most Endangered Lighthouse: Grand Island, East Channel Lighthouse, (November, 1999) Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- Harrison, Timothy and Case, Chris, Last Chance for Grand Island East Channel Light (January, 2000) Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- New Products Help Grand Island East Channel Light Will you help save this lighthouse? (June, 2000). Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- Grand Island East Channel Light—Closer to Rescue April, 2001. Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine Lighthouse Digest.
- LaFave, Michael (Mackinac Center), "Privatization Shines" - article on the general subject of privatization of lighthouses.
- Pepper, Terry. "Grand Island East Channel Light". Seeing The Light. terrypepper.com. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- Wobser, David, Great Laker Magazine, Grand Island East Channel Range Light Archived 2010-04-09 at the Wayback Machine, Boatnerd.
External links
- Grand Island East Channel Light on the World List of Lights
- Aerial photo at Marinas.com.
- Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses. Detroit News.
- Interactive map of lighthouses in eastern Lake Superior.
- Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Satellite view at Google Maps.
- Light List, Volume VII, Great Lakes (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard.
- v
- t
- e
- Au Sable
- Big Bay Point
- Copper Harbor
- Copper Harbor Front Range
- Crisp Point
- Eagle Harbor
- Eagle Harbor Range Lights
- Eagle River
- Fourteen Mile Point
- Grand Island East Channel
- Grand Island Harbor Rear Range
- Grand Island North
- Grand Marais Range Lights
- Granite Island
- Gull Rock
- Huron Island
- Isle Royale
- Manitou Island
- Marquette Breakwater Outer
- Marquette Harbor
- Mendota (Bete Grise)
- Munising Front Range
- Munising Rear Range
- Ontonagon
- Ontonagon Harbor West Breakwater
- Portage River (Jacobsville)
- Passage Island
- Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light
- Rock Harbor
- Rock of Ages
- Sand Hills
- Sand Point Light (Baraga)
- St. Martin Island
- Stannard Rock
- Thunder Bay Island
- Whitefish Point
- Frying Pan Island
- Pipe Island
- Point Iroquois
- Round Island Light (St. Mary's River)
- Six Mile Point Range Rear
- Winter Point Range Front
- Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance
- Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance
- Portage Lake
- Rouleau Point Range Front and Rear Lights
- Beaver Island Harbor
- Beaver Island Head
- Big Sable Point
- Cedar River
- Charlevoix
- Charlevoix South Pier
- Frankfort
- Frankfort South Range
- Grand Haven North Pierhead
- Grand Haven South Pierhead Entrance
- Grand Haven South Pierhead Inner
- Grand Traverse
- Grays Reef
- Holland Harbor
- Ile Aux Galets
- Little Sable Point
- Little Traverse
- Ludington
- Manistee Pierhead
- Manning Memorial
- Mission Point
- Mission Point (1933)
- Muskegon Breakwater
- Muskegon Pier
- North Manitou Shoal
- Pentwater North Pierhead
- Pentwater South Pierhead
- Point Betsie
- Portage Lake
- South Fox Island
- South Haven
- South Manitou Island
- St. Joseph North Pier Inner
- St. Joseph North Pier Outer
- Waugoshance
- White River
- White Shoal
- Alpena
- Caseville Harbor
- Charity Island
- Cheboygan Crib
- Cheboygan River Front Range
- Detroit River
- Fort Gratiot
- Forty Mile Point
- Fourteen Foot Shoal
- Gibraltar
- Gravelly Shoal
- Harbor Beach
- Lake St. Clair
- Mariners Memorial
- Middle Island
- Miller Memorial
- New Presque Isle
- Old Presque Isle
- Peche Island Rear Range
- Poe Reef
- Pointe aux Barques
- Port Austin
- Port Sanilac
- Saginaw Bay
- Saginaw River Rear Range
- Spectacle Reef
- St. Clair Flats Front and Rear Range Light
- Sturgeon Point
- Tawas Point
- Thunder Bay Island
- Tri-Centennial Light of Detroit
- William Livingstone Memorial
- Windmill Point
- Au Sable North Pierhead
- Belle Isle
- Clinton River
- Ecorse
- Ecorse Range Rear
- Gibraltar
- Grassy Island
- Grassy Island North Channel Range Lights
- Grassy Island South Channel Range Lights
- Grosse Ile North Channel Range Lights
- Grosse Ile South Channel Range Lights
- Harwood Point East Range Front
- Kalamazoo River
- Mama Juda
- Mama Juda Range Front
- Manistee Main
- Middle Lake George
- Monroe Pier
- New Buffalo
- North Manitou Island
- Saginaw Bay
- Sand Beach North Entrance East
- Squaw Point
- St. Mary's River Lower Range Front
- Vidal Shoals Channel Range Front and Rear Lights
- Windmill Point Range Front and Rear Lights
- Lightship Huron
- List of lifesaving stations in Michigan
- Wixom Lake, Musselman Island lighthouse