Since 1939 the United States Coast Guard has taken over the maintenance and operation of U.S. Meanwhile, the fate of many of the lighthouses, across the state lies largely in the hands of volunteers in groups like the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, which advocates for the protection of lighthouses and life-saving stations that were used before the Coast Guard was established. It highlights and provides the details and history of 20 lighthouses, and includes suggestions for other stops and dining. The Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map and Circle Tour includes a 1,100-mile trip through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, and maps more than 100 lighthouses around Lake Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac. This light has shined onto the big lake since 1849. The lighthouse marks the end of an 80- mile stretch of shoreline known as Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast. Hundreds of vessels, including the famed Edmund Fitzgerald, lie on the bottom of the bay and the approaches. Whitefish Point is known as the Graveyard of Ships, as more vessels have been lost there than in any other part of the lake. Many of Michigan’s lighthouses are open for tours. Climb Ludington’s Big Sable Point lighthouse, one of Michigan’s tallest, for sweeping views of Lake Michigan. With 3,200 miles of shoreline and one of the nation’s most active waterways, there are 129 towers throughout the state. In fact, a driving tour of more than a dozen lighthouses takes enthusiasts from the middle of the Mitten State’s thumb at Fort Gratiot, north to the tip and down again to Big Red Lighthouse on the westside of the state.Īnother driving tour features lighthouses along 140 miles where lighthouse seekers visit six landmarks along the state’s southwest shoreline, from New Buffalo to Muskegon. Lighthouses continue to be popular vacation destinations, too. They saved a lot of men, no matter where they came from, their nationality, their creed, their beliefs.” They symbolize man’s humanity toward other men. They make a statement about a period of history and the way things were done. “Artists and photographers find them picturesque, people find them romantic, boaters find them useful. “We preserve lighthouses because they’re historic structures and need to be preserved,” he said. The group is a nonprofit with a mission to promote the preservation of Michigan’s lighthouses and life-saving station structures and artifacts. “Lighthouses mean so many different things to a lot of people,” said Jeff Shook, Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy president.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |