Did you know Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state? Why do we need so many? Because we have more freshwater coastline than any other state. There are over 100 lighthouses in Michigan. Walk the pier with friends, watch the sunset, climb to the top, and learn the unique history of each lighthouse to discover your favorite.
Read on for an overview of some lighthouses in West Michigan.
According to The Weather Channel, Ludington’s North Breakwater Lighthouse is ranked #1 light house to visit in Michigan. This lighthouse is most popular because it is a focal point in the downtown community and great for watching sunsets. From the lighthouse, you have a close look at the S.S. Badger car ferry as it cruises from its home port in Ludington to cross Lake Michigan to Manitowoc, WI. Most visitors enjoy walking the mile-long walkway that leads to the lighthouse, climbing the 53 steps to the top of the light, and watching the sunset.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse is also located in Ludington, in the State Park north of town. This lighthouse is listed on both the state and national registers of historic places. It is over 100 ft tall and one of the tallest in Michigan. The original keeper’s quarters house is a gift shop where you can pick up a memento of your visit. Visitors can hike 1.8 miles from the parking lot to the beach and climb 130 steps to the top of the tower for a rewarding view. Or be a lighthouse keeper for a week!
Little Sable Point Lighthouse is in the Silver Lake Dunes and the Silver Lake State Park, north of Muskegon. The lighthouse lens emits a constant white light and flashes a brighter light at set intervals, visible 19 miles into Lake Michigan! While at Silver Lake take a ride on the dunes or visit the off-road vehicle area at the Silver Lake State Park.
Pentwater’s Pierhead Lights of Pentwater serve as beacons to guide pleasure boats into Pentwater’s harbor during the busy summer season. The lighthouse is 25 feet tall and has had numerous changes throughout the years since 1890.
“Big Red” is in Holland. The Holland Harbor is commonly known as Big Red and has stood tall for nearly 100 years. The wooden square structure was built in 1870. In 1880 the lighthouse service installed a new light atop a metal pole in a protective cage. In 1900, over one thousand ships used the port. Get a great view of Big Red from the Holland State Park, which requires a state recreation passport, available for only $13 and can be purchased with your license plate renewal or at the state park for $18).
Whitehall Lighthouse is in White Lake. It was built in 1875 and is the home of a maritime museum. The light house is a museum full of stories as you climb a spiral staircase. Here was Michigan’s last female light house keeper in 1954.
Grand Haven Lighthouse is instantly recognizable because of its structure: a cylindrical tower connected to a house structure by a catwalk. The Grand Haven Lighthouse is one of only three lighthouses in Michigan that has a catwalk, which contributes to a unique look. The catwalk was removed during a recent restoration and reinstalled. Walk the pier (only when the water is calm) all the way to the end for a better view of the sunset.
If you want to learn more about the history of lighthouses in West Michigan, check out https://westmichiganguides.com/west-michigan-lighthouses.
