Discover the Tallest Lighthouse on Lake Michigan

The famous Lake Michigan is the third-largest among the five North American Great Lakes. The large, open lake connects to Lake Huron through the Straits of Mackinac. It’s also home to over 100 lighthouses. But which one is the tallest, and how tall is it? Discover the tallest lighthouse on Lake Michigan and find out if you have what it takes to see it up close and personal.  

The Tallest Lighthouse on Lake Michigan

The tallest lighthouse on Lake Michigan is White Shoal Light. The red and white striped beacon of beauty is located about 20 miles west of the Mackinaw Bridge and Mackinaw City in the northeast point of Lake Michigan. The massive lighthouse is 121 feet tall and over 5,000 square feet. It has 11 separate decks and 11 levels with a functioning light tower and adjoining keeper’s house. It may look small from a distance, but the enormous structure has enough room to house groups of guests overnight.

White Shoal Light is one of dozens of lighthouses built in the mid-1800s to early-1900s on Lake Michigan to mark navigational hazards, including shoals, islands, and reefs. However, after decades of helping boaters travel safely through the lake, the lighthouses were automated. In 1976, White Shoal Light was decommissioned and became a historical landmark. Today, White Shoal Light is still active and open for tours and overnight stays.

The History of White Shoal Lighthouse

Construction on White Shoal Light began in the spring of 1908, but the cold, unbearable winters made it impossible to build year-round. Therefore, construction was postponed every year once the snow arrived and didn’t continue until warmer weather returned. White Shoal Light was finally complete and began operating in September 1910. To steer boaters away, it sits at the focal point of three dangerous shallows: White Shoal, Gray’s Reef, and Simmons Reef. 

White Shoal Light went through many color changes over the decades. However, the lighthouse didn’t receive its distinct red and white spiral bands until 1954. In the Spring of 2014, the tallest lighthouse on Lake Michigan was deemed excess by the U.S. Coast Guard and made available to new owners under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act guidelines. Brent Tompkins and Mike Lynch purchased White Shoal Light in an 2016 online auction. Together, they founded the White Shoal Light Preservation Society to fully restore the lighthouse to its mid-1950s era design and keep it accessible to the public. They remain the current owners of White Shoal Light.

White Shoal Lighthouse Today

Seeing White Shoal Light up close and personal requires a lengthy boat ride into Lake Michigan. Those afraid of water can opt to view part of the removed Fresnel at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point instead. But visitors completing an overnight stay are rewarded with a clear view of the constellations at night and breathtaking sunrises in the morning. Trips to White Shoal Light include a ride under the Mackinac Bridge and a close look at the Waugoshance Lighthouse.

Things to Do Near The Tallest Lighthouse on Lake Michigan

The tallest lighthouse on Lake Michigan is secluded, with only the nearby islands and a crumbling lighthouse for company. However, there are a few must-see stops for your trip to White Shoal Light. 

Waugoshance Lighthouse

Waugoshance Lighthouse operated from 1851 to 1912 when White Shoal Light took over protecting boaters from the shoals in the Straits of Mackinac. John Herman’s ghost allegedly haunts the lighthouse. He was a lightkeeper from the 1800s who mysteriously disappeared after locking his assistant in the lantern room. He most likely fell into the water during a drunken stupor but there is no way to know for sure. Furthermore, during WWII, the U.S. military used it for target practice for tactical bombing and drones. 

Unfortunately, Waugoshance Lighthouse is crumbling into Lake Michigan piece by piece. The Waugoshance Lighthouse Preservation Society abandoned plans to restore the historical monument in 2019 due to extensive damages. Get a glimpse of the abandoned lighthouse on your way to White Shoal Light before it too disappears into Lake Michigan.   

Waugoshance Point

Waugoshance Point comprises a grouping of shoals in northwest Emmet County, Michigan. The large peninsula is a challenging yet great place to hike. The rock beaches along the shore are home to many species of lake shore wildflowers and waterfowl. The area is dangerous for sailing vessels but has a large smallmouth bass population that entices fishermen. Miles of trails leading through Wilderness State Park take you through 10,000 acres of a beautiful and diverse landscape. 

Sturgeon Bay Beach

The quiet and secluded Sturgeon Bay Beach is the perfect place to get away. This beautiful hidden gem in Northern Michigan has clear water and a clear view of the sunset. Sturgeon Bay Beach is located at the south point of Wilderness State Park in Sturgeon Bay. Visitors can explore the sandy shore with their dogs right beside them at the end of summer. You might even see some shorebirds out for a walk in the sand. 

Wildlife Surrounding the Tallest Lighthouse on Lake Michigan

There are no lake monsters in Lake Michigan, but it has a variety of native species. Some of the most well-known fish include the smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, lake sturgeon, lake whitefish, bowfin, yellow perch, catfish, and panfish. Lake Michigan has always been a hub for the fishing industry, which unfortunately caused many of these native fish populations to dwindle. 

Several invasive fish species take residence in Lake Michigan surrounding White Shoal Light. These fish include the alewife, sea lamprey, Pacific salmon, zebra, and quagga mussels.

Nearshore vegetation and shoreline habitats are essential to the fish and wildlife living on and along the coast of Lake Michigan. Although the tallest lighthouse on Lake Michigan is far from shore, the fish living close to White Shoal Light depend on the shore’s wildlife. Visitors coming and going from White Shoal Light may have the opportunity to see some of the amazing animals that call Lake Michigan home while exploring the nearby areas.   

Furthermore, the trees and shrubs near the shore provide shelter to the lake ecosystems when they blow into the water after storms. Turtles and ducks sun themselves on floating bark, while mink and otters use the surface as a hunting ground. Songbirds, ospreys, and kingfishers also dock on fallen trees. Although the dead tree limbs can be a sight for sore eyes, they are integral to wildlife.    

The photo featured at the top of this post is © John Brueske/Shutterstock.com