Lighthouses in
Presque Isle, Michigan
Home of the Presque Isle Township Museum Society
Preserving Our Maritime History
Welcome!
Learn about Presque Isle's rich maritime history as you explore our two lighthouses, range lights, and museums . . .
We are now open for the 2023 season, we look forward to welcoming you--our visitors, Museum Society members, and loyal volunteers--for another exciting season! We have many events, activities and contests planned and you can check them out on our Events page for the most up-to-date information. To plan your visit, see our hours and directions.
Interested in learning more about the PITMS and our community-oriented activities? Take a few moments to read the 2022 Annual Report of the Presque Isle Township Museum Society.
You can also read our most recent PITMS Newsletter here.
For lighthouse lovers, Presque Isle is a must-see stop in Northern Michigan. Our 1870 Lighthouse is the tallest light on the Great Lakes that the public may climb. Our 1840 Lighthouse is one of the oldest lights on the Great Lakes. And our 1870 Harbor Range Light honors the small, dedicated group of women who were appointed keepers in a profession dominated by men. The beautifully restored 1905 Keeper’s House serves as a museum highlighting local history and the lives of lighthouse keepers and their families.
Easy to find! Hard to leave!
Presque Isle Happenings Calendar
Are you a local looking for events sponsored by Presque Isle community groups or a visitor looking for fun events during your vacation in Presque Isle? Visit the Presque Isle Happenings calendar for all the fun and exciting events in Presque Isle!
Presque Isle Lighthouses Photo Contest
May 26, 2023 – September 4, 2023
Welcome all photographers, regardless of skill level or experience!
To celebrate the beauty and history of our beautiful historic lighthouses, the Presque Isle Township Museum Society is hosting their annual photo contest. Submit your best photos and help celebrate the beauty and history of these special places.
Photos will be accepted: May 26, 2023 @ 12:01 am – September 4, 2023 @ 11:59pm
People’s Choice Award Online Voting on Facebook: September 7-12
Winners Announced: September 15 - 18
Submit photos to photocontest@presqueislelighthouses.org
Contest Rules
Each photo submitted MUST include the following information:
photographer's name;
title of the photo; and
year the photo was taken.
Minimum of 1200 pixels wide (but the bigger, the better!).
Maximum of three (3) photos of each lighthouse.
All submitted photographs shall accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photos that have been substantially altered will not be accepted, including the combination of two or more photos (composite photos); the addition, duplication, deletion, or moving of objects in the photos; or the use of artistic digital filters and effects. Examples of artistic filters and effects are watercolor, neon glow, posterizing, stained glass, and others which do not show the scene as it occurred when the photo was taken.
We will assume that, in submitting a photo, you are the photographer and own the right to publish it (including permission/model release for anyone identifiably pictured).
By submitting a photo, you are giving us permission to use the photo for non-commercial purposes, such as on our website, on social media, and in other Presque Isle Township Museum Society not-for-profit publications. We will provide credit to photographers whenever we use any of the photos.
Respect privacy and private residences when photographing.
Photos that are submitted without identifying information (photographer, title/subject, date) will not be considered.
Members of the PITMS Board of Directors and their families are excluded from participating.
Awards
People’s Choice Award
Old PI Lighthouse
New PI Lighthouse
Juror’s Awards
New Lighthouse
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
Old Lighthouse
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place
Winning photos for Juried 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and People’s Choice award in each category will be featured on the PITMS website and social media.
Past winning photos may be viewed HERE.
Presque Isle Lighthouses Youth Art Contest
May 26, 2023 - September 16, 2023
Presque Isle Township Museum Society (PITMS) invites students in grades K-8 to participate in the 2023 Presque Isle Lighthouses Youth Art Contest.
REQUIREMENTS
Submissions must show the Presque Isle Old Lighthouse (1840) or Presque Isle New Lighthouse (1870.)
Limit of two (2) entries per youth.
Artwork must be entirely the work of the youth.
Do not put name on the front of the artwork.
Media
Must be 2-dimensional work (no sculpture, ceramics, etc.)
Artwork may be made using pastels, pencils, crayons, paint, glitter, markers, etc. on a flat surface such as paper, canvas, poster board, etc.
No photography or digitally created entries – must be hand-crafted artwork and meet the media specifications above.
DIVISIONS
Grades K-1
Grades 2-3
Grades 4-5
Grades 6-8
SUBMISSION
Submissions will be accepted between May 26, 2023 and September 16, 2023.
Artwork may be scanned as a high resolution pdf or photographed at the high resolution setting (jpg or tif format, 2.5M or larger size, if possible).
Attach the digital image to an email to ArtContest@presqueislelighthouses.org.
In the email, include the information found below or attach a completed entry form (download entry form here):
Student’s Name
Age
Title of Artwork
Grade on May 1, 2023
Parent’s name
Contest sponsors retain the right to use artwork submitted to this contest for educational, outreach, and promotional non-commercial use. Any use of artwork will include credit to the student. Credit for students will be identified by first name/last initial only. All winning artwork and honorable mentions will be posted on the PITMS website and in social media. Personal identifiable information on the entry form will be held securely and not released to any outside individual or organization.
Past winning artwork may be viewed HERE.
Out of the Woods 1870–New Light Presque Isle Summer Raffle
May 26, 2023 – September 4, 2023
Local artist Janet Hainstock Straley has generously donated a large-format Giclée print of her “portrait” of the New Presque Isle Lighthouse for our summer raffle. Out of the Woods 1870–New Light Presque Isle is a framed limited edition print, numbered and signed by the artist, 15” x 30”. Janet has personal ties to our lighthouses: her great-great-grandfather was Patrick Garrity, Sr., keeper of both the Old and New Presque Isle Lights.
Tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5 and will be sold from May 26 to September 4. The winning ticket will be drawn at the 1905 House on September 4 at 3:00 pm; winner need not be present.
Tickets are available from our Board members, at the Presque Isle Harbor Wooden Boat Show, Concerts at the Lighthouse, or by contacting us at pilighthouses@gmail.com or leave a message at 989.787.0814.
Raffle Permit Number: X08478
Preserving our Lighthouses
The Lighthouses of Presque Isle guided the mariners of the past and they continue to inspire us in our own day. So many feel a deep connection to these iconic monuments—they are a legacy that we celebrate locally, and it is our joy to share them with visitors from near and far.
In 2018, Presque Isle Township Museum Society (PITMS) & Presque Isle Township established the Presque Isle Township Lighthouses Restoration Fund. Administered by the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM), the fund supports the Township’s efforts to restore and preserve the Old and New Lighthouses and related buildings. Lighthouse Restoration Fund donations are accepted throughout the year, not just on GivingTuesday. We encourage you to make a donation to the Lighthouses Restoration Fund by going to Presque Isle Township Lighthouses Restoration Fund. or mailing your check to PITMS, PO Box 208, Presque Isle, MI 49777
Location
4500 East Grand Lake Road
PO Box 208
Presque Isle, MI 49777
GPS:
45 21.395 N | 083 29.532 W
Contact Us
Presque Isle Township Museum Society
Phone: 989.787.0814
Email: pilighthouses@gmail.com
Presque Isle Township
Old Presque Isle Lighthouse Gift Shop
Gift Shop: 989.595.9917
Township Hall: 989.595.2752
New Presque Isle Lighthouse Gift Shop
Gift Shop: 989.595.9917
Township Hall: 989.595.2752
Group and tour reservations: jmatuszak@presqueisletwp.org
Facility and grounds rentals: 989.595.2752 or adminassistant@presqueisletwp.org