Crisp Point Light Historical Society
History of Crisp Point Lighthouse
Crisp Point Lighthouse, located approximately 14.5 miles west of Whitefish Point on the southern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is one of the most remote lighthouses in the region. Named after Christopher Crisp, an iron-willed boatman and keeper of the Life-Saving Station, it has a rich history tied to maritime safety along the treacherous "Shipwreck Coast."
Early History and Life-Saving Station
Before the lighthouse was built, the site was home to Life-Saving Station Number 10, one of four stations established in 1876 along Lake Superior to reduce shipwreck fatalities. The station was renamed "Crisps" in 1883 after Christopher Crisp, who served as keeper from 1878 to 1890. The Life-Saving Station was part of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which merged with the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915.
Construction and Operation
The need for a lighthouse at Crisp Point was recognized as early as 1896, with the Lighthouse Board repeatedly requesting funds due to the dangerous conditions for vessels in thick weather. Construction was finally approved in June 1902 with an appropriation of $18,000. The lighthouse, a 58-foot-tall brick tower, was constructed between 1903 and 1904 and became operational on May 5, 1904. It featured a fixed red fourth-order Fresnel lens from Sautter & Lemonnier of Paris, France, with a focal plane 58 feet above the lake's mean low water level. The station included a two-family brick keeper's dwelling, a fog signal building, an oil house, two barns, a boathouse, a tramway, and a service room entrance.
Decline and Restoration
The lighthouse operated until 1947, when it was shuttered as a crewed station. In 1965, the U.S. Coast Guard demolished most of the station's buildings, except the tower and part of the service building, due to high maintenance costs. By 1996, Lake Superior's erosion had destroyed the service building, leaving only the tower. The Crisp Point Light Historical Society (CPLHS), formed in 1991, took action in 1997-98 by placing 1,000 cubic yards of stone to protect the tower from further erosion. Ownership was transferred to Luce County in 1997, and CPLHS leased the property.
In 2008, the service building was rebuilt, and a visitor center replicating the fog signal building was completed in 2009. In 2012, CPLHS received a permit to install a 300mm LED marine light, reactivating the lighthouse as a private aid to navigation from May 1 to November 1 each year. A major brick restoration was completed in 2016, funded by CPLHS and a $25,000 Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Grant.
Crisp Point Images
Current Status
Today, Crisp Point Lighthouse is a popular destination, attracting over 15,000 visitors annually despite its remote location, accessible via a 20-mile gravel road. The CPLHS maintains the site, offering tours and a visitor center from mid-May to mid-October, depending on volunteer availability. The lighthouse grounds are open year-round, though the final 7 miles of road are not snowplowed in winter.
Lighthouse Keepers
Below is a list of known keepers of the Crisp Point Life-Saving Station and Lighthouse, compiled from available historical records. Note that comprehensive records of all keepers are incomplete, so this list may not include every individual who served.
- Christopher Crisp, Life-Saving Station Keeper, October 3, 1878 - 1890
- James Hunter, Life-Saving Station Keeper, November 17, 1897 - Unknown
- James Scott, Life-Saving Station Keeper, May 31, 1904 - Unknown
- Joseph Noah Singleton, Lighthouse Keeper, 1923 - 1939
- Albert Brown, First Assistant Lighthouse Keeper, 1933 (noted in records)