Copper Harbor’s Lighthouse Guides Visitors in a Different Way Today

Happy National Lighthouse Day. Michigan’s coastlines along the Great Lakes share treacherous and difficult navigation. One of the first lighthouses built on Lake Superior is located in Copper Harbor. Due to the region’s growth in copper mining it was necessary to build a navigational structure with both the main lighthouse structure and two range lights for safer guidance.

The Keweenaw Peninsula is unique with its geology and with that, there are very few harbors of refuge. So with the increase in copper mining and the increase in the shipping industry in the 1860s, the United States Lighthouse Establishment decided to build range lights at Copper Harbor to guide vessels in the deepest and safest part of the channel entrance. There’s a reef that is out in the middle of the channel and range lights work to lead vessels through the safest part of the entry and then they could head west up the harbor to get away from storms. It’s still an active RAIDs navigation today. The Coast Guard maintains both lights at Copper Harbor as part of the RAID navigation system. – Barry James, Historian, Fort Wilkins State Historic Park

When fuel sources began to change at the turn of the century, many lighthouses were converted to become automated lights. Today the lighthouse stands as a museum sharing maritime history of the Keweenaw Peninsula and Lake Superior. Tours include viewing period style rooms in the 1866 structure. Or the 1848 Keeper’s dwelling that is one of the oldest lighthouse structures in the county still accessible. Those interested in learning more about Michigan’s lighthouses, or want to find out about tour opportunities in the Upper Peninsula can find more details at copperharbor.org.