Welcome to the Light Station - SMI Wayside

Welcome to the Light Station Wayside

NPS M. Baughman

“Welcome to the Light Station!” is a slanted outdoor panel that is thirty-six inches wide by twenty-four inches high and mounted on a frame with brown metal legs.  

On a background of light blue with black letters: “Welcome to the Light Station!” On the left, on a beige background is a map of the Lighthouse Complex with each building numbered. On the bottom is a round red circle with “You are Here” at the site of the panel on the trail. The trail leads from the panel past the open space of seven, the Lookout Tower that has been removed, to one, the Fog Signal Building. Two trails lead from the Fog Signal Building to two, the Light Tower, and four, the Keeper’s Quarters. The trail on the right leads past six, the round Metal Oil House, five, the square Brick Oil House and the four, the Keeper’s Quarters. The trail on the left leads up to two, the Light Tower and three, the Covered Passageway that attaches it to the Keeper’s Quarters. 

To the right: 

From 1840 to 1958, the South Manitou Island light station was a guide for ships navigating the waters of Lake Michigan’s Manitou Passage. Stations like this one were crucial to Great Lakes travel and commerce before technologies like radar and satellites were developed to help mariners know their precise location and accurately forecast the weather. 

More than just a tower with a beaming light, this light station also consisted of several support structures, many of which still stand today. As you explore the lighthouse complex, imagine the challenges lighthouse keepers faced in this busy outpost! 

To the right: 

“through the channel between South Manitou Island and the main land the principal commerce of the lakes passes, guided by this light….” Inspection report, 1869. 

Below: 

“A Legacy of Service” 

The U.S. Government has long recognized the importance of maritime commerce to the public good, and installed and maintained a system of aids to navigation along its coasts, including the Great Lakes. Today, the National Park Service continues that legacy of service by preserving the South Manitou Island light station for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. 

Below is a sepia tone photo of the side of the Lighthouse Complex. From left to right: the one story T shaped white Fog Signal Building with two slim smoke stacks, the tall conical white Light Tower with a walkway and a light on top, a long white rectangular Covered Passageway, and a black square Keeper’s Quarters. 

Along the bottom of the panel are seven beige circles with numbers that correspond to the numbers on the map: 

One. Fog Signal Building. 1874 and 1879, combined in 1897. Also called the whistle shed, generated sound during fog and limited visibility 

Two. Light Tower, 1871, one hundred-foot-tall tower with light 

Three. Covered Passageway, 1871, Provided weatherproof access between the keeper’s quarters and the lighthouse tower 

Four. Keeper’s Quarters, 1858, Housed the lighthouse keeper, assistants and their families 

Five. Brick Oil House, 1902, Housed additional cans of fuel for the lamps in the lighthouse tower 

Six. Metal Oil House, 1893, Stored bulk kerosene used to fuel the lamp in the lighthouse tower 

Seven. Lookout Tower, 1940 Used by the Coast Guard to monitor ship traffic and identify ships in need of rescue. 

As you stand at this slanted outdoor panel, the Fog Signal Building is in front of you and to the left. The Light Tower stands beyond it on a slight rise. Extending from the right of the Light Tower is a slim white building where the Covered Passageway leads to the square three-story Keeper’s Quarters. On the right side of the Fog Signal Building leading up to the Keeper’s Quarters is a small round building, the Metal Oil House and a small square building, the Brick Oil House. 

You may now move forward to the next slanted outdoor panel ” Evolution of a Lighthouse”