Marquette Harbor
Located in Marquette, MI (1866).
The first light at the entrance to the harbor at Marquette, Michigan was built in 1852 but rapidly deteriorated. Construction of the existing lighthouse began in 1865. The original light was provided by a Lewis lamp (oil lamp with parabolic reflector and magnifying lens). This proved to be subject to design flaws and was upgraded to sixth order Fresnel lens in 1856. With construction of a new lighthouse in 1865, this lens was upgraded to a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. The light from this lens was visible for 10 nautical miles. The lighthouse was electrified in 1899. The original 4th-order lens is now on display in the Marquette Maritime Museum.
The 1865 lighthouse is a brick combination dwelling and tower and of a design which was used in the construction of a number of light stations around the lakes. The new 1½-story dwelling featured an integrated square tower 38 feet in height with a circular inner brick wall containing a set of cast-iron spiral stairs which wound from the first floor to the lantern. With a landing on the second floor, these stairs also served as the only method of moving between the floors within the dwelling.
The Marquette Harbor Lighthouse is one of more than 150 past and present lighthouses in Michigan, more than any other state. The light station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Location: On Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan
Type: Square tower made of brick
Read MoreThe first light at the entrance to the harbor at Marquette, Michigan was built in 1852 but rapidly deteriorated. Construction of the existing lighthouse began in 1865. The original light was provided by a Lewis lamp (oil lamp with parabolic reflector and magnifying lens). This proved to be subject to design flaws and was upgraded to sixth order Fresnel lens in 1856. With construction of a new lighthouse in 1865, this lens was upgraded to a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. The light from this lens was visible for 10 nautical miles. The lighthouse was electrified in 1899. The original 4th-order lens is now on display in the Marquette Maritime Museum.
The 1865 lighthouse is a brick combination dwelling and tower and of a design which was used in the construction of a number of light stations around the lakes. The new 1½-story dwelling featured an integrated square tower 38 feet in height with a circular inner brick wall containing a set of cast-iron spiral stairs which wound from the first floor to the lantern. With a landing on the second floor, these stairs also served as the only method of moving between the floors within the dwelling.
The Marquette Harbor Lighthouse is one of more than 150 past and present lighthouses in Michigan, more than any other state. The light station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Location: On Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan
Type: Square tower made of brick
