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Presque Isle Lighthouse
Written by Abby LutzThe original Presque Isle Lighthouse was a smaller light built in 1840 at the entrance of the Presque Isle Harbor, about a mile to the south. In 1868, due to deteriorating conditions of the keeper's house at the 1840 structure, new plans were drawn to rebuild the keeper's house. However, the plans were never used and the decision was made to build a taller coastal light at the northern point of the peninsula. The conical brick tower of the New Lighthouse stands 113 feet in height from the base to the ventilator ball of the lantern. The light produced a lens focal plane of 123 feet above the mean low water level of Lake Huron. It is the tallest lighthouse accessible by the public on the Great Lakes. It has a diameter of 19 feet 3 inches at the base and 12 feet 4 inches at the parapet and is surmounted by a round iron watch room and a ten-sided cast iron lantern. The foundation is limestone, 9 feet 8 inches below ground level. At the base of the tower, there is an outer wall 24 inches thick, an air space of 31 inches, and an inner wall 12 inches thick. At the parapet, the outer wall is 16 inches thick, the air space is 4 inches, and the inner wall is 8 inches thick. Within the tower, is a spiral iron stairway with pipe railing, 138 steps and 6 landings. The tower has eight windows. There is a rectangular two story brick Keeper's House connected to the tower by an enclosed 16 foot walkway. It has a gabled slate roof and measures 24 feet by 28 feet.
The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is open from mid-May to mid-October, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The keeper's dwelling houses a museum, and visitors are allowed to climb the detached tower, which contains a fourth-order Fresnel lens.
5295 Grand Lake Road
Presque Isle, MI 49777
(989) 595-9917
The New Presque Isle Lighthouse houses a gift shop and is open for climbing from mid-May to mid-October, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, you can reach the lighthouse at (989) 595-9917. The adjacent 1905 keeper's dwelling houses a museum that is open from June 15 to Labor Day on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. During September and October, the museum is open on weekends only, as volunteer staffing permits.
From Alpena, travel north on Highway 23 for 10.4 miles and then turn right on Grand Lake Road. After 3.5 miles, you will need to turn right to stay on Grand Lake Road (there is a sign that will direct you to the Presque Isle Lighthouses). The New Presque Isle Lighthouse is located at the end of Grand Lake Road. The road that leads to the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse will be on your right after 9.4 more miles and just after you pass the Presque Isle Marina.
GPS Waypoints
45 21.395 North
083 29.532 West
Last time I visited, there was an entrance fee for this attraction.
http://www.keepershouse.org/index.html