Point Betsie Light
| File:PointBetsieLight.jpg Point Betsie Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | North of Frankfort, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°41′29″N 86°15′19″W / 44.6913°N 86.2552°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1858  |
| Construction | brick |
| Automated | April 1983 |
| Height | 52 feet (16 m) |
| Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place |
| Light | |
| First lit | April, 23, 1877 |
| Focal height | 16 m (52 ft) |
| Lens | 4th order Fresnel Lens |
| Range | 27.5 miles |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s |
The Point Betsie lighthouse is located on the northeast shore of Lake Michigan north of Frankfort in Benzie County in Northern Michigan. Construction began in 1858, but it was not completed until 1858, and began service in the shipping season of 1859. It was originally equipped with a Fourth Order Fresnel lens (pronounced [freɪ'nel]) with bullseye, which was upgraded to a third order in 1880. The Fresnel Lens was removed in 1996, and there are plans to display it[1] at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.[2].
The cylindrical tower is 39 feet tall, but sits on a dune. It is attached to the Lighthouse keepers house, which was upgraded to an attractive gambrel roof design.[3]
Current status
The station was transferred to Benzie County under the terms of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2004.
It has been repainted to its original color scheme, which had not been seen since the 1940s. The "Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse" have undertaken a complete restoration of the station.[4]
The organization is celebrating the lighthouse's sesquicentenial in 2008. This 150th anniversary celebration will include many events. A calendar is available.[5]
Point Betsie is said to be one of America's most photographed lighthouses, and the most-visited attraction in Benzie County.[6] Because of its picturesque form and location, it is often the subject of photographs, and even of needlepoint illustrations.[7]
It is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, Reference #84001375.[8]
Sign Posted by Lighthouse
- Point Betsie Light & Coast Guard Family Housing
- Welcome to Point Betsie Lighthouse. The lighthouse, formerly the Point Betsie Lifesaving Station, was built in 1876. It began operation on April 23, 1877, and was manned and maintained by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. On July 1, 1939 the lighthouse service was merged with the U.S. Coast Guard. The lighthouse, manned for over 106 years was automated in April 1983. The light is 52 feet above lake level and has a range of 27.5 miles. The house was converted to apartments and now serves as housing for families of personnel assigned to Coast Guard station, Frankfort.
Additional reading
- Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.
- Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (2002) ISBN 1592231020; ISBN 978-1592231027.
- Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
- Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, American Lighthouses (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0762703245; ISBN 978-0762703241.
- Jones, Ray,The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0762727357; ISBN 978-0762727353.
- Noble, Dennis, Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1557506388; ISBN 9781557506382.
- Oleszewski, Wes, Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
- Penrod, John, Lighthouses of Michigan, (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
- Pepper, Terry. "Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes".
- Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
- United States Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation, (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
- United States Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation Historical Bibliography.
- Wagner, John L. "Beacons Shining in the Night: The Lighthouses of Michigan". Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
- Wagner, John L., Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective, (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
- Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993.
Notes
- ^ National Park Service, Inventory of historic light stations, Point Betsie.
- ^ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore Visitors Bureau.
- ^ Seeing the Light, Terry Pepper on Point Betsie Light
- ^ Friends of the Point Betsie Light.
- ^ Friends of the Point Betsie Light.
- ^ Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.
- ^ Needlepoint of Point Betsie Light.
- ^ Point Betsie lighthouse facts, Friends of Point Betsie.
See also
External links
- Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography for Benzie County.
- Friends of the Point Betsie Light.
- Interactive map of lighthouses in area of Lake Michigan.
- Interactive map/list/information of lighthouses in northeastern Lake Michigan by LighthousesRus
- Map of Michigan Lighthouse in PDF Format.
- Michigan lighthouse fund, Point Betsie Light.
- National Park Service, Inventory of historic light stations, Point Betsie.
- Photographs of Point Betsie Light.
- Seeing the Light, Terry Pepper on Point Betsie Light.
- Summary chronology of Point Betsie light.
- USCG's complete list of Michigan lights.
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