BIG SABLE POINT (GRAND POINT AU SABLE) LIGHTHOUSE

Location: Eastern shore of Lake Michigan; nearest Town or City is Ludington, Michigan
Date Built: 1867
Type of Structure: This lighthouse was originally a brick conical cast iron tower white with middle third black; it was encased in steel plates in 1900.
Height: Tower height was 112 feet with a height of focal plan of 106 feet
Characteristics: Fixed White
Lens: Original third order Fresnel lens (now at Rose Hawley Museum at White Pine Village) and was automated in 1968.
Status: Light is operational with current use active aid to navigation

Historical Information:

• The lighthouse station was leased to the Foundation for Behavioral Research in 1986. The foundation has worked with the Big Sable Lighthouse Association to preserve the buildings.
• Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Keepers:

• Alonzo Hyde, Sr. (1867-1871)
• Newton Bird (1871-1873)
• Burr Caswell (1874-1882)
• Hans Hansen (1882-1887)
• James Rich (1887-1888)
• Tomas Bailey (1889-1893)
• George Blake (1899—1903)
• Samuel Gagnon (1905-1923)
• Joseph Kimmers (1922-1923)
• Leweilyn Vanatter (1923-1936)
• George Rogan (1936-1949)
• David Sauers (1949-1954)
• Henry Vavrina (1955-1965)
• Homer Meverden (1965-1968)

Researched and written by Catherine (Kitty) Price, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Light House Society.