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Day 1
Day 2: Parks
Day 2: Colonial Fort Michilimackinac
Day 2: Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Day 2: Dairy Queen, The Campfire, & The Bridge
On the second day of our vacation, we visited the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. This is a fairly new addition to the historical parks, having been added in 2000. The lighthouse sat in disrepair for many years after it was decommissioned as a lighthouse.
In 1999, serious work started to restore the lighthouse, before it became too late to save the beautiful 1892 structure. Even now, 10 years later, there is work that needs to be done to save the brickwork of the tower.
The entrance is in the old fog signal building, which has been converted into a gift shop. Once admission is paid, you exit the building, and enter the lighthouse structure with a guide, who will show you around the rooms.
We were all tall enough to go up into the lighthouse tower, which is a bit of a hike up a winding staircase, followed by a ladder into the final light tower. The actual light is now hanging downstairs. The tower offers a magnificent view of the surrounding parks, the Mackinac Bridge, and the Straits of Mackinac.
Overall, it was a short tour, and not something that would take even an hour to complete, but we enjoyed being able to see the building, and hear some of the history none the less!
The lightouse is located on the shores of Lake Huron, in the Michilimackinac State Park. A short walk down a path winds up at the base of the Mackinac Bridge, at Fort Michilimackinac.
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Comments: 20
Beautiful pictures. And an amazing view! Lighthouses are lovely to see, and one of my favorite sites, because I know that where there is a lighthouse there is water!
They are lovely- I enjoy looking at them as well.
Lovely pictures! I've always had a thing for old structures, and I love light houses.
If I ever have more money than sense, one day I would like to take modern high-efficiency building practices and build a Victorian-style house, and do a few rooms (though not the kitchen!) to period. :)
Oh, Lisa, I'd LOVE to do the same thing! I'd actually prefer to buy a Victorian that has been restored, then just update the areas I want.
I'd want to use modern building methods (like pour-in-place, and incorporating Victorian elements with passive solar), which is why I'm not as interested as I used to be with the idea of restoring an old one.
If you are ever near Holden, Missouri, there is a restaurant there called Galle's, which is in what was once a tin shop. The owners restored the old wooden floor AND the tin ceiling! It is an absolutely beautiful place. Better, the owners make most of the food from scratch (I've seen the wife punching down the bread dough for the rolls). The pie is also pretty good - so far one of the neatest I've tried is the blue-goose pie (blueberry-gooseberry). :)
I enjoyed the pictures very much. Thanks
I love lighthouses. This one is beautiful!
Looks great and fun.
That would be fun to tour a lighthouse. It sure looks cool.
Great pictures! Did you go to Mackinac Island?
Yes, we went for 1 day, and enjoyed ourselves!
It looks like a great place to visit Heather~
How neat! I am hoping to visit some lighthouses next summer/fall if we can make it to Savannah and Tybee Island in Georgia
Looks beatiful, I miss Northern Michigan, used to live in Alpena not to far away from Mackinaw....moved around south(fl az etc) and more up north in pa love it !
Sounds like a neat place to visit. I enjoyed the photos too. Your kids are cuties.
Beautiful essay.
Great photos. I really enjoy visiting lighthouses.
great essay! love the pics