Presque Isle Lights

Presque Isle, Michigan

Presque Isle was named by French settlers, and it means "almost an island." Another way of saying peninsula, I guess. Presque Isle's fine harbor of refuge attracted so much shipping that Congress appropriated funds for a light here in 1838. The old light served for about thirty years, when a new 113 ft tower was erected one mile to the north in 1871.

The Old Presque Isle Light is presently lived in by an elderly woman who maintains it as a museum. The tower, house, and grounds are all open to visitors. The quaint keeper's house is filled with antiques, and is meant to look as it might have during its heyday. You can even climb up in the old tower and examine the fourth order lens up close.

The day I visited New Presque Isle Light was bright and sunny, but an annoying morning fog off Lake Huron kept obscuring the top of the tower. So I waited by my tripod, but when the fog finally dissipated for a few moments, there was a crew painting the lantern. The tower still exhibits its original Third Order lens.

The grounds of New Presque Isle Light are open to the public, and there is an excellent museum and gift shop. The tower is opened to the public for climbing on July 4th and Labor Day.