Great Lakes Lighthouses — Comprehensive Upper Great Lakes Directory

Compiled by Chris Izworski · Bay City, Michigan · Updated March 2026

The Great Lakes shoreline is home to approximately 400 lighthouses and light structures — the highest concentration of lighthouses on any freshwater body in the world. Michigan alone has over 150 lighthouses, more than any other state. This directory covers 110 major lighthouses on Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie with construction date, height, active status, visitor access, and National Register of Historic Places listing.

~400Total Great Lakes Lighthouses

150+Michigan Lighthouses (most any state)

66Still Active (in this list)

92Publicly Accessible

1821Oldest (Marblehead, OH)

Lake: State: Active: Visitors: Search:

Name ↕	Lake ↕	State	Built ↕	Height	Location	Status	Visitors	NRHP
Whitefish Point Light	Superior	MI	1861	80 ft	Paradise, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Au Sable Light	Superior	MI	1874	87 ft	Pictured Rocks NL, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Crisp Point Light	Superior	MI	1904	58 ft	Newberry area, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Marquette Harbor Light	Superior	MI	1866	40 ft	Marquette, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Stannard Rock Light	Superior	MI	1882	102 ft	25 mi off Marquette, MI	Active	—	NRHP
Big Bay Point Light	Superior	MI	1896	60 ft	Big Bay, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Ontonagon Light	Superior	MI	1867	36 ft	Ontonagon, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Eagle Harbor Light	Superior	MI	1871	44 ft	Eagle Harbor, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Eagle River Light	Superior	MI	1877	27 ft	Eagle River, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Copper Harbor Light	Superior	MI	1843	43 ft	Copper Harbor, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Sand Hills Light	Superior	MI	1917	91 ft	Ahmeek, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Gull Rock Light	Superior	MI	1867	28 ft	Off Keweenaw Point, MI	Active	—	NRHP
Huron Island Light	Superior	MI	1878	39 ft	Huron Islands, MI	Active	Limited	NRHP
Granite Island Light	Superior	MI	1869	40 ft	Off Marquette, MI	Historic	Limited	NRHP
Grand Island East Channel Light	Superior	MI	1868	45 ft	Munising, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Grand Island North Light	Superior	MI	1867	36 ft	Grand Island, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Munising Range Lights	Superior	MI	1908	58 ft	Munising, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Split Rock Light	Superior	MN	1910	54 ft	Two Harbors area, MN	Historic	Open	NRHP
Two Harbors Light	Superior	MN	1892	50 ft	Two Harbors, MN	Active	Open	NRHP
Duluth South Breakwater Inner Light	Superior	MN	1901	35 ft	Duluth, MN	Active	Open	NRHP
Duluth North Pier Light	Superior	MN	1910	37 ft	Duluth, MN	Active	—	NRHP
Minnesota Point Light (ruins)	Superior	MN	1858	50 ft	Duluth, MN	Historic	Open	NRHP
Grand Marais Light	Superior	MN	1922	36 ft	Grand Marais, MN	Active	Open	—
Isle Royale Light	Superior	MN	1875	61 ft	Isle Royale NP, MI	Historic	Limited	NRHP
Rock of Ages Light	Superior	MN	1908	130 ft	Isle Royale NP, MI	Active	Limited	NRHP
Rock Harbor Light	Superior	MN	1855	50 ft	Isle Royale NP, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Passage Island Light	Superior	MN	1882	44 ft	Isle Royale NP, MI	Active	Limited	NRHP
Apostle Islands — Michigan Island Light	Superior	WI	1857	52 ft	Michigan Island, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Apostle Islands — Devils Island Light	Superior	WI	1891	71 ft	Devils Island, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Apostle Islands — Sand Island Light	Superior	WI	1881	44 ft	Sand Island, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Apostle Islands — Raspberry Island Light	Superior	WI	1863	42 ft	Raspberry Island, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Apostle Islands — Outer Island Light	Superior	WI	1874	90 ft	Outer Island, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Apostle Islands — La Pointe (Long Island) Light	Superior	WI	1895	43 ft	La Pointe, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Ashland Breakwater Light	Superior	WI	1915	57 ft	Ashland, WI	Active	—	—
Bayfield Light	Superior	WI	1890	35 ft	Bayfield, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Caribou Island Light	Superior	ON	1886	79 ft	Caribou Island, ON	Active	—	NRHP
Thunder Cape Light	Superior	ON	1884	36 ft	Thunder Cape, ON	Active	—	NRHP
Porphyry Island Light	Superior	ON	1873	36 ft	Porphyry Island, ON	Historic	Limited	NRHP
Welcome Islands Light	Superior	ON	1867	40 ft	Thunder Bay, ON	Active	—	NRHP
Gros Cap Reefs Light	Superior	ON	1907	57 ft	Near Sault Ste. Marie, ON	Active	—	NRHP
Presque Isle Old Light	Huron	MI	1840	30 ft	Presque Isle, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Presque Isle New Light	Huron	MI	1870	109 ft	Presque Isle, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Forty Mile Point Light	Huron	MI	1896	52 ft	Rogers City area, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Spectacle Reef Light	Huron	MI	1874	86 ft	Straits area, MI	Active	—	NRHP
Thunder Bay Island Light	Huron	MI	1832	50 ft	Thunder Bay Island, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Middle Island Light	Huron	MI	1905	71 ft	Middle Island, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Charity Island Light	Huron	MI	1857	51 ft	Saginaw Bay, MI	Historic	Limited	NRHP
Tawas Point Light	Huron	MI	1876	67 ft	East Tawas, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Port Austin Reef Light	Huron	MI	1878	60 ft	Port Austin, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Pointe aux Barques Light	Huron	MI	1847	89 ft	Port Hope, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Harbor Beach Light	Huron	MI	1885	45 ft	Harbor Beach, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Fort Gratiot Light	Huron	MI	1829	86 ft	Port Huron, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Port Sanilac Light	Huron	MI	1886	59 ft	Port Sanilac, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Sturgeon Point Light	Huron	MI	1869	68 ft	Harrisville, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Alpena Light	Huron	MI	1914	34 ft	Alpena, MI	Active	—	—
Detour Reef Light	Huron	MI	1931	63 ft	DeTour Village, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Gravelly Shoal Light	Huron	MI	1939	52 ft	Saginaw Bay, MI	Active	—	—
Saginaw River Rear Range Light	Huron	MI	1876	68 ft	Bay City, MI	Active	—	NRHP
Cove Island Light	Huron	ON	1858	24 ft	Georgian Bay, ON	Active	Limited	NRHP
Flowerpot Island Light	Huron	ON	1897	40 ft	Flowerpot Island, ON	Active	Open	NRHP
Cabot Head Light	Huron	ON	1895	27 ft	Cabot Head, ON	Historic	Open	NRHP
Point Clark Light	Huron	ON	1855	27 ft	Point Clark, ON	Historic	Open	NRHP
Kincardine Light	Huron	ON	1881	21 ft	Kincardine, ON	Historic	Open	NRHP
Tobermory (Big Tub) Light	Huron	ON	1885	17 ft	Tobermory, ON	Historic	Open	NRHP
Mississagi Strait Light	Huron	ON	1873	50 ft	Manitoulin Island, ON	Historic	Open	NRHP
Round Island Light	Straits	MI	1895	53 ft	Straits of Mackinac, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
St. Helena Island Light	Straits	MI	1873	71 ft	Cross Village area, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
White Shoal Light	Straits	MI	1910	107 ft	20 mi W of Mackinac, MI	Active	—	NRHP
McGulpin Point Light	Straits	MI	1869	38 ft	Mackinaw City, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Old Mackinac Point Light	Straits	MI	1892	40 ft	Mackinaw City, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Mackinac Island Light	Straits	MI	1892	40 ft	Mackinac Island, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Grand Traverse (Cat's Head) Light	Michigan	MI	1858	48 ft	Northport, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
South Manitou Island Light	Michigan	MI	1872	104 ft	South Manitou Island, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Point Betsie Light	Michigan	MI	1858	37 ft	Frankfort, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Little Sable Point Light	Michigan	MI	1874	107 ft	Mears, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Big Sable Point Light	Michigan	MI	1867	112 ft	Ludington, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
White River Light	Michigan	MI	1876	38 ft	Whitehall, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Muskegon South Pierhead Light	Michigan	MI	1903	48 ft	Muskegon, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Grand Haven Pier Lights	Michigan	MI	1905	51 ft	Grand Haven, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Holland Harbor Light (Big Red)	Michigan	MI	1936	48 ft	Holland, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
South Haven South Pier Light	Michigan	MI	1903	35 ft	South Haven, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
St. Joseph North Pier Lights	Michigan	MI	1907	57 ft	St. Joseph, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Seul Choix Point Light	Michigan	MI	1895	78 ft	Gulliver, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Peninsula Point Light	Michigan	MI	1865	40 ft	Stonington Peninsula, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Sand Point Light (Escanaba)	Michigan	MI	1867	40 ft	Escanaba, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Ludington North Breakwater Light	Michigan	MI	1924	57 ft	Ludington, MI	Active	Open	NRHP
Old Mission Point Light	Michigan	MI	1870	30 ft	Old Mission Peninsula, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Beaver Island Harbor Light	Michigan	MI	1870	46 ft	Beaver Island, MI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Cana Island Light	Michigan	WI	1869	86 ft	Baileys Harbor, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Eagle Bluff Light	Michigan	WI	1868	43 ft	Fish Creek, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Chambers Island Light	Michigan	WI	1868	43 ft	Chambers Island, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Sherwood Point Light	Michigan	WI	1883	35 ft	Sturgeon Bay, WI	Active	Limited	NRHP
Sturgeon Bay Canal Light	Michigan	WI	1899	98 ft	Sturgeon Bay, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Rawley Point Light	Michigan	WI	1894	113 ft	Two Rivers, WI	Active	—	NRHP
Port Washington Light	Michigan	WI	1860	28 ft	Port Washington, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
North Point Light (Milwaukee)	Michigan	WI	1855	74 ft	Milwaukee, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Wind Point Light	Michigan	WI	1880	108 ft	Racine, WI	Active	Open	NRHP
Kenosha Southport Light	Michigan	WI	1866	55 ft	Kenosha, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Pottawatomie (Rock Island) Light	Michigan	WI	1858	41 ft	Rock Island, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Plum Island Range Lights	Michigan	WI	1897	65 ft	Plum Island, WI	Active	Limited	NRHP
Baileys Harbor Range Lights	Michigan	WI	1869	44 ft	Baileys Harbor, WI	Historic	Open	NRHP
Chicago Harbor Light	Michigan	IL	1893	48 ft	Chicago, IL	Active	—	NRHP
Grosse Point Light	Michigan	IL	1873	113 ft	Evanston, IL	Historic	Open	NRHP
Michigan City East Pier Light	Michigan	IN	1904	35 ft	Michigan City, IN	Historic	Open	NRHP
Michigan City Lighthouse (Old)	Michigan	IN	1858	40 ft	Michigan City, IN	Historic	Open	NRHP
Marblehead Light	Erie	OH	1821	65 ft	Marblehead, OH	Active	Open	NRHP
Sandusky Harbor Light	Erie	OH	1839	58 ft	Sandusky, OH	Historic	Open	NRHP
Toledo Harbor Light	Erie	OH	1904	72 ft	Toledo, OH	Historic	—	NRHP
Lorain West Breakwater Light	Erie	OH	1917	57 ft	Lorain, OH	Active	—	NRHP
Fairport Harbor West Breakwater	Erie	OH	1925	42 ft	Fairport Harbor, OH	Active	—	NRHP

Active status as of 2026. Visitor access may require advance reservation, park entrance fees, or seasonal hours — verify before visiting. NRHP = National Register of Historic Places. Height is tower height, not focal plane height. Some offshore structures are accessible only by charter. Sources: Lighthouse Friends, National Park Service, USCG Light List, Parks Canada.

Sources: Lighthouse Friends · Minnesota Historical Society · Apostle Islands NPS · Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy · USCG Light List · Parks Canada Historic Sites · National Register of Historic Places

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic answered from the data.

How many lighthouses are on the Great Lakes?

There are approximately 400 lighthouses and light structures on the U.S. and Canadian shores of the five Great Lakes, making the Great Lakes the most lighthouse-dense freshwater region in the world. Michigan alone has over 150 lighthouses — more than any other state. This guide covers the most significant structures on Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie.

Which Great Lakes lighthouse is most famous?

Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior in Minnesota is the most photographed lighthouse in the United States. Built in 1910 on a 130-foot cliff following the catastrophic 1905 Mataafa Storm, it was decommissioned in 1969 and is now maintained by the Minnesota Historical Society. The November 10 Edmund Fitzgerald memorial lighting ceremony is one of the most moving annual events on the Great Lakes.

Which is the oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes?

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron, Michigan, completed in 1829, is the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes and the oldest lighthouse in Michigan. The current tower replaced an earlier 1825 structure. It remains active and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What does NRHP mean for lighthouses?

NRHP stands for National Register of Historic Places — the federal government's official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Lighthouses listed on the NRHP are recognized for their architectural, historical, or cultural significance. Most pre-1940 Great Lakes lighthouses are NRHP listed. NRHP listing does not automatically make a lighthouse publicly accessible or fund its preservation.

Can you visit Great Lakes lighthouses?

Many Great Lakes lighthouses are publicly accessible. Some are operated as museums by historical societies. Others are inside state or national parks with organized tours. A number of lighthouses have been converted to bed and breakfasts (Two Harbors Lighthouse in Minnesota and Big Bay Point in Michigan). Some offshore lighthouses are accessible only by charter boat. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore operates lighthouse cruises to six lighthouses in Wisconsin.

What is the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes?

Presque Isle New Light in Presque Isle, Michigan (109 ft), White Shoal Light in the Straits of Mackinac (107 ft), Little Sable Point Light in Michigan (107 ft), and Grosse Point Light in Evanston, Illinois (113 ft) are among the tallest on the Great Lakes. Rawley Point Light in Two Rivers, Wisconsin at 113 ft is one of the tallest.

Great Lakes Lighthouses — Comprehensive Upper Great Lakes Directory

Frequently Asked Questions

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