Big Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Site
Fun Facts About Big Sable Point Lighthouse
- The Big Sable Point Lighthouse, located in Ludington State Park, Michigan, was first constructed in 1867. Learn more on Wikipedia.
- Originally built with Cream City brick, the lighthouse was encased in steel plates in 1900 to protect it from harsh weather. Read more at the Visit Ludington website.
- Standing 112 feet tall, it is one of the tallest lighthouses on Lake Michigan and remains an active navigational aid. Discover more at the Kids Encyclopedia.
- The lighthouse was the last on the Great Lakes to receive electricity and plumbing, which were installed in the late 1940s. Learn more on the Lighthouse Digest.
- The original third-order Fresnel lens was replaced with a modern acrylic optic, and the lighthouse was automated in 1968. Read about its history on the U.S. Coast Guard website.
Keepers:
- Alonzo Hyde, Sr. (1867-1871)
- Newton Bird (1871-1873)
- Burr Caswell (1874-1882)
- Hans Hansen (1882-1887)
- James Rich (1887-1888)
- Tomas Bailey (1889-1893)
- George Blake (1899—1903)
- Samuel Gagnon (1905-1923)
- Joseph Kimmers (1922-1923)
- Leweilyn Vanatter (1923-1936)
- George Rogan (1936-1949)
- David Sauers (1949-1954)
- Henry Vavrina (1955-1965)
- Homer Meverden (1965-1968)
Big Sable Point Lighthouse History
The Big Sable Point Lighthouse, located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan within Ludington State Park, was first constructed in 1867. It stands 112 feet tall and was originally built using Cream City brick, which was later encased in steel plates in 1900 to protect it from the elements. Learn more on Wikipedia.
The lighthouse was established to guide ships through the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan, which were notorious for shipwrecks. It was the last Great Lakes lighthouse to receive electricity and plumbing, which were installed in the late 1940s. Discover more at the Visit Ludington website.
The original third-order Fresnel lens was replaced with a modern acrylic optic, and the lighthouse was automated in 1968. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1988. Read more about its history on the U.S. Coast Guard website.
Image Source Wikimedia Commons
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