Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Michigan--Big Bay Point

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Michigan Lighthouses

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ALPENA LIGHT

State: MICHIGAN
Location: NORTH BREAKWATER, THUNDER BAY RIVER / LAKE HURON
Nearest City: ALPENA
County: ALPENA
U.S.C.G. District: 9
Year Station Established: 1875

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard, 2005

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1914
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1974
Foundation Materials: CONCRETE PIERS
Construction Materials: STEEL
Markings/Patterns: ORIGINALLY BLACK; PAINTED RED IN 1950
Shape: PYRIMIDAL
Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
Tower Height:
Original Optic: 4TH ORDER FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1914
Present Optic: VRB-25
Year Present Lens Installed: C.1996
Height of Focal Plane: 44
Fresnel Lens Disposition: UNKNOWN
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s): YES; FIRST EST IN 1875 AS A POLE LIGHT 25 FT ABOVE LAKE LEVEL & 10 MILES FROM SHORE; AUGUST 1877 A WOODEN PYRIMIDAL TOWER PAINTED BROWN EXHIBITING A 6TH ORDER FRESNEL—BURNED IN JULY 1888;POLE LIGHT EXHIBITED AGAIN IN 1888 WHILE WOODEN TOWER WAS REBUILT

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO, INTEGRAL TO TOWER

Fog Signal Type: 1891, FOG BELL WITH AUTOMATED STRIKING MECHANISM; 1920, ELECTRIC SIREN; 1932, FOG HORN; CURRENT, MODERN AUTOMATED HORN OPERATES MAY TO OCTOBER

Existing Keepers Quarters? NO

Year Constructed: 1877

Other Structures: BRICK OIL STORAGE BUILDINGS (1898) - NO LONGER EXTANT

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD

Open to the Public? NO

National Register Status: LISTED
Name of Listing: ALPENA LIGHT
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 2006

Miscellaneous:

Last Modified: Mon, Oct 02 2006 12:00:00 pm EDT
JMP

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