This lighthouse was built in 1880 and is the oldest and tallest in operation on Lake Michigan. The Lighthouse was fully automated in 1964. The tower is 108 feet tall and is attached to the keepers dwelling by a covered passageway. The dwelling was home to the Head Keeper and two assistants and their families. To get to the tower top you need to climb 144 cast iron steps, each individually anchored to the walls and supported by a central column, this leads to the lantern room. With the addition of a fog signal in 1900 and powered by steam the signal could be heard from a distance of 40 miles out in the lake. The tower originally was outfitted with a kerosene-fired Third Oder Fresnel lens but in 1924 it became the second station of all the Great Lakes lights to be electrified. Then in 1964 the electrified Fresnel lens was replaced with a DCB-24 Aerobeacon with an output of 2,000,000 candle power. Since the station towers 110 feet at its focal plane the light is visible for a distance of nineteen miles. In 1964 the fog signal was dismantled and removed.
