Two Thumbs Up - Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse & Museum

We are lighthouse lovers and one of our favorite spots in Michigan’s “Thumb” area is the Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse and Museum.  It is located near the tip of the “thumb” along the shore of Lake Huron in Huron County’s Lighthouse Park (7320 Lighthouse Road, Port Hope, Michigan, USA). 

Hours of Operation:  The Lighthouse museum is open every day from Memorial weekend until mid-October from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.   The museum is free to tour (self-guided) but donations are always appreciated.      

Pointe aux Barques is French for “point of little boats” which refers to the birch bark canoes used by the fur traders.  

In 1857, the present lighthouse was built along with its 89' high white tower.  It is a State of Michigan Historic site.   In 1972, the lighthouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

We arrive at the lighthouse museum with plenty of time to wander through the rooms.  The first room we see is set-up with kitchen items.

There is a 3^rd order Fresnel (the “s” is not pronounced) lens on display.  The rotation of the lens creates a rainbow of colors on the wall.   FYI … The order of Fresnel lenses range from 1-6 with a 1^st order being the largest lens and the 6^th order lens is the smallest.

3rd Order Fresnel Lens on Display

Climbing the 103 cast iron steps to the top of the 89’ high tower are limited to specific days – like the annual Heritage Days (first Saturday in August) where you can climb the stairs for a $2 donation.

 Lighthouse Tower Stairs

The second floor of the lighthouse has the bedrooms which are furnished in period pieces.

Stairway to Second Floor

Bedrooms

There are lots of interesting newspaper articles about shipwrecks and survivors.  I suggest taking some time to at least scan through some of these real-life maritime stories filled with acts of bravery and sadness. 

Built in 1876, the Point aux Barques Life Saving Station was located in what is now Huron County’s Lighthouse Park. The purpose of a life-saving station is to assist ships in distress and to perform search and rescue operations.  There are over 100 known shipwrecks around the Pointe aux Barques area. In 1964, the Life Saving Station was moved to the Huron City Museum grounds (7995 Pioneer Rd, Port Austin, Michigan)

First Class Life Saving Station from Pointe aux Barques

The grounds also include the brick Assistant Keepers House built in 1908.   It is identical to the one in Munising, Michigan.  The building has been restored and now serves as a museum.

Assistant Keepers House

We spent a couple of hours here.  This is a nice park so bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the view.  The lighthouse park has a gift shop (not open during our visit).  Next to the gift shop are the restroom facilities - two porta-potties (one was handicap accessible). 

Although I did not see this part of the park, there are 110 modern and rustic campsites.  If camping isn’t your thing, there is limited lodging (and food) in the lakeside towns of Port Austin (about 3 miles) or Harbor Beach (about 24 miles).   A little more inland is Bad Axe (about 20 miles) which has a wider range of choices.   

Lighting the Way - 40 Mile Point Lighthouse

Michigan has over 3,000 miles of shoreline and fronts four of the five Great Lakes.  With this much coast, Michigan built lighthouses to guide ships sailing the Great Lakes.  Over the years, many of these lighthouses have fallen into disrepair, been destroyed, or were demolished.  Currently, Michigan has over 100 lighthouses with about 35 that are open to the public.  Some are privately owned (e.g. as a bed & breakfast) and some are museums.  Among the lighthouse museums is the one located at 40 Mile Point. 

LOCATION:  7323 US 23N Lighthouse Park, Rogers City, MI 49779

A brief History:

The 40 Mile Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1896.  It has a similar blue print to the Big Bay Point Lighthouse which was also built in 1896.  The Coast Guard took over maintenance of the lighthouse in 1944.   In 1996, the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse was declared surplus property and cited for disposal.    In 1998, the deed to the property was turned over to Presque Isle County.  Since then, the County and 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society have been working together to restore and preserve the lighthouse and the other historic pieces located on the 2.4 acre park. 

The Lighthouse Park is open year around from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.  There is a large parking area, picnic tables, and restrooms.  The lighthouse museum is open for tours (closed on Mondays).  Admission is free and visitors can climb the tower stairs. 

40 Mile Point Lighthouse (built in 1896)

The 40 Mile Point Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. 

S S Calcite (1912-1961)

This 436’ long, self-unloading vessel was one of the first of its kind to sail the Great Lakes.   The pilot house has found a home in the Lighthouse Park. 

Joseph S. Fay Shipwreck (built in 1871)

Trail to Fay Shipwreck

In 1905, this 216’ long wooden steamer ship was loaded with iron ore and heading for Ohio.  On October 19^th, heavy waves swept the ship toward shore.  It struck a sand bar where the ship was torn apart and washed to shore near the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse.   Visitors can see part of the remains (spikes and wooden beams) along the sandy shore of Lake Huron. 

Life Boat

Glawe School (1880’s-1960)

Glawe School was originally built on Ocqueoc Road and was moved to the Lighthouse Park in 1999.  The schoolhouse is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends from the last weekend in June to the last weekend in August. 

For more information about 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Park, click on the following link:

40 Mile Point Lighthouse

For a list of Michigan lighthouses open to the public, click on the following link:

Michigan Lighthouses Open to the Public

Food and Lodging can be found in the nearby towns of Alpena or Rogers City.