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GRANITE ISLAND LIGHT

State: MICHIGAN
Location: NW END GRANITE ISLAND / LAKE SUPERIOR
Nearest City: MARQUETTE
County: MARQUETTE
U.S.C.G. District: 9
Year Station Established: 1868

 Granite Island Light (2000)
2000 GILS photo by Scott L. Holman
Granite Island Light (1979)
1979 HAER photo by Charles Hyde
Existing Historic Tower:
  • Year Light First Lit: 1869
  • Is the Light Operational? NO
  • Date Deactivated:
  • Automated: 1939
  • Foundation Materials: ROCK
  • Construction Materials: GRANITE
  • Markings/Patterns: NATURAL W/BLACK LANTERN
  • Shape: SQUARE
  • Relationship to Other Structures: ATTACHED
  • Tower Height: 40
  • Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
  • Year Original Lens Installed: 1869
  • Present Optic: REMOVED
  • Year Present Lens Installed:
  • Height of Focal Plane: 96
  • Fresnel Lens Disposition:
  • Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s): N/A

Modern Tower? YES
  • Year Tower Constructed: FIRST IN 1939, SECOND IN 1995
  • Type: STEEL
  • Current Optic: SOLAR POWERED
Existing Sound Signal Building? YES
  • Year Constructed: 1910 (ORIGINAL 1879)
  • Construction Materials: STRUCTURAL STEEL
  • Architectural Style: BELL TOWER
  • Fog Signal Type: BELL FROM THUNDER BAY ISLAND (NOW REMOVED)
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES
  • Year Constructed: 1868
  • Number of Stories: 2
  • Architectural Style: ATTACHED TO TOWER
  • Construction Materials: GRANITE AND LIMESTONE
Other Structures: BRICK OIL HOUSE (1905)

Current Use: PRIVATELY OWNED (UNDER RESTORATION)

Owner/Manager: PRIVATE OWNER

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site: LINK

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #83000884
Name of Listing: GRANITE ISLAND LIGHT STATION (U.S. COAST GUARD / GREAT LAKES TR)
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1983

Miscellaneous:
ONE OF OLDEST SURVIVING LIGHTHOUSES ON LAKE SUPERIOR; BECAME LESS IMPORTANT TO NAVIGATION IN 1920S WHEN SHIPPING RAN LESS OFTEN BETWEEN ISLAND & SHORE



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Last Modified: Wed, Apr 24 2002 12:02:02 pm EDT
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