• Little Portal Point at sunset. Photo copyright Craig Blacklock

    Pictured Rocks

    National Lakeshore Michigan

  • Fire Ban in Effect

    A FIRE BAN in all drive-in and hike-in campgrounds, effective at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 24. Due to very hazardous conditions, the ban is in effect until further notice.

  • Chapel Road - last quarter mile closed

    The last quarter-mile of Chapel Road is closed due to construction. Only very limited parking available along Chapel Road. Please park at Miners Beach. More »

  • Sable Falls re-opens, Friday, May 25, 5 p.m.

    The trail and stairs to Sable Falls are closed due to a collapse of the stream bank. Work is nearly done, and the trail will re-open for Memorial Day weekend!

Munising Range Light Facelift

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Date: December 9, 2011
Contact: Chris Case, 906-387-2607, ext. 209

View of the rear entrance of Munising Range Light keepers dwelling with scaffolding in place during exterior work.
NPS photo by Chris Case
Munising Range Light rear entrance

 MUNISING, Mich.  You may have noticed work going on in recent weeks on the old range light building in downtown Munising. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Chief of Facility Management Chris Case said, "Many people are not aware that this building, as well as the front and rear range light towers, is owned by the National Park Service, as part of the national lakeshore. We are pleased to announce that the old keepers quarters are getting a face lift." 

The work began in November with the removal of the old roof and siding. "Our goal is to restore the exterior appearance to its 1908 appearance, using appropriate materials," according to Case. "The new roof should be complete before the snow flies. The rest of the work will be completed in the spring, so the historic building will look a little forlorn over the winter, but be patient. It should look terrific when it is done." 

The Munising Range Lights as well as the keepers quarters came into National Park Service ownership in 2002, after it was decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard still operates the actual light in the tower, but the National Park Service is responsible for all the structures. The building is used for offices and lab space for the park's Science and Natural Resources professional staff. 

"The Munising Range Lights are an important part of Munising's maritime history, and the National Park Service is proud to be associated with them," added Gregg Bruff, the park's Chief of Heritage Education. "When this project is complete, the building will look much better and be a wonderful addition to the other interesting and beautiful historic structures in downtown Munising." 

Did You Know?

The Grand Sable Dunes are located just west of Grand Marais, Michigan, in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The Grand Sable Dunes are a federally designated Research Natural Area. The five square miles of dunes are an unusual glacial kame terrace with overlying dunes caused by fluctuating lake levels over the centuries. The dunes are located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, near Grand Marais, Mich. More...