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 . . .
After a delightful 2022 season, the Old and New Presque Isle Lighthouses and the 1905 Keeper’s House are now closed for the winter. Please remember that, while the buildings are closed, the New Lighthouse Park is open year round. Weather permitting, you can still enjoy the trails and the opportunity to witness our stunning sunrises and sunsets over the waters of Lake Huron and North Bay. We do ask that you keep our park clean by taking all trash and debris with you when you leave.
When we open for the 2023 season (around the Memorial Day weekend), we will look forward to welcoming you--our visitors, Museum Society members, and loyal volunteers--for another exciting season. There will be many events and activities on tap--check our Events page for the most up-to-date information. And 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.
August 4 - 6, 2023
Schedule and Tickets are available HERE
There will be a craft fair at the New Presque Isle Lighthouse Park on Saturday, August 5. We are looking for vendors for the craft fair. There is no charge for booths. If interested, please email Sherry Milstein at maritime.market@presqueislelighthouses.org.
Friday, August 4
NOAA’s GREAT LAKES MARITIME HERITAGE CENTER
500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena, Michigan
6:30 pm
Drinks and Hors d'Oevures
Guest Speaker - Jeff Shook, "Lil Red"
Entertainer - Dan Hall, Maritime Musician
Presentation - Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Saturday, August 5
NEW PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE PARK
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Free Admission
Mari-Time Market
NEW PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE PARK: GARRITY HALL
Guest Speakers
10:00 AM
Brian Lijewski, Architect Specialist, S.H.P.O.
Topic - Grants for Lighthouses and Historical Places
11:15 AM
Ginger Schultz, Manager - Mission Point Lighthouses
Topic - How to be a Lighthouse Keeper
1:00 PM
Patricia Majher, Author - Ladies of the Lights
2:15 PM
Roger P. Hulett, Author - A Lot More to Do: The Remarkable Life of Frank Mays
NOAA’s GREAT LAKES MARITIME HERITAGE CENTER
500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena, Michigan
4:30 to 5:30 PM
Guest Speaker - Augustin Fresnel
6:00 PM
Lighthouse Cruise on the glass bottom boat Lady Michigan
5:45 PM Board the Lady Michigan
6:00 PM Depart on the Lady Michigan
Sunday, August 6
NOAA’s GREAT LAKES MARITIME HERITAGE CENTER
500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena, Michigan
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Fare Sailings Brunch
Meet and Say "Farewell" to Your Lighthouse (New & Old) Friends!
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.
Repairs to the New Lighthouse
For several years, visitors to the New Lighthouse (1870) noticed the growing vertical cracks extending from the corners of the tower windows. The Presque Isle Township administration, which owns and takes great care to maintain the lighthouses, commissioned an engineering firm with experience in historical buildings, Sanders & Czapski Associates of Marquette, to examine the lighthouse tower.
The firm found no evidence of damage to the inner wall or the structural integrity of the tower. But excess moisture had caused the bricks to crack. Late this summer, the Township hired Meridian Restoration of Alpena to bring in a 125-foot-high lift, repair the lintels above and below the tower windows, replace the cracked bricks, and repaint the affected area. This essential work went well as the cracked bricks were replaced in advance of winter to prevent future damage. According to Matt Bedard, Township Facilities and Project Manager, although the interior and exterior walls of the 1870 tower will continue to be monitored closely, the repair will prevent any further water intrusion that could cause damage to the inner wall or structural integrity.
Funds to repair the 1870 tower were drawn from the Presque Isle Township Lighthouses Restoration Fund at CFNEM, the Lighthouse Gift Shop Committee Fund, and the Township’s Facilities Budget. To reduce costs, bricks that had been retained from the 1988 rebricking of the tower were reused for the recent repair.
Upcoming Needs
Although repairs on the New Lighthouse took priority this season, there are additional facility repairs that need to be addressed. Critical repairs are needed to the 1905 Keeper’s House. The dormer windows on the east side (above the front porch) were damaged during the winter of 2019-20 and must be replaced to protect the historical contents of the museum. The front porch of the house has been deteriorating rapidly (despite numerous attempts to patch and repaint rotting areas) and must be replaced.
GivingTuesday, 11/29/22
The Township and Presque Isle Township Museum Society (PITMS) participated in GivingTuesday on November 29 through CFNEM’s #GivingTuesdayNEMI campaign at CFNEM.org to raise funds for these repairs to the 1905 Keeper’s House. If you were among this year's GivingTuesday donors, we thank you!
If you missed GivingTuesday and would like to contribute, Lighthouses Restoration Fund donations are accepted throughout the year, not just on GivingTuesday. We encourage you to make a tax-deductible donation to the Lighthouses Restoration Fund by going to http://bit.ly/savepilights or mailing your check to PITMS, PO Box 208, Presque Isle, MI 49777
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!
© Copyright 2023
Presque Isle Township Museum Society
All Rights Reserved
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
In Season: 989.595.6979
Out of Season: 989.595.2752
New Presque Isle Lighthouse Gift Shop
In Season: 989.595.9917
Out of Season: 989.595.2752
Group and tour reservations, facility and grounds rentals: 989.595.2752