Name and Location

The Grosse Ile North Channel Range Front Light is a former navigational aid located on the north side of Grosse Ile Township in Wayne County, Michigan. Its official address is 19505 Parke Lane, Grosse Ile Township, MI 48138, United States, with coordinates 42.1681746 N, 83.1399325 W.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was built in the late 19th or early 20th century (exact date unavailable), likely as part of a range lights system to guide vessels through the North Channel of the Detroit River. It formed the front element of a pair of range lights, with its paired partner, the North Channel Range Rear Light, located generally east of the front light.

Architecture and Materials

The construction materials of the lighthouse are unknown, but it is likely that the structure was built using timber or steel framing typical of small range lights of the era. The appearance of the lighthouse is described as a small tower or skeletal structure.

Light and Navigation

Unfortunately, detailed specifications about the light characteristics are not available in public records. The lighthouse was officially decommissioned in 1963 and no longer serves as an aid to navigation.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site lies just off Parke Lane at the western end of Lighthouse Pointe, overlooking the North Channel of the Detroit River. The nearest public viewpoint is a roadside pull-off on Parke Lane, but private property begins beyond this point. Visitors can enjoy the surrounding landscape of wooded riverbank and small residential subdivision (Lighthouse Pointe).

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse offers views of the North Channel of the Detroit River and the surrounding landscape of wooded riverbank and small residential subdivision.

Anecdotes and Folklore

No anecdotal or folkloric information is available about this lighthouse.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was not automated, as it was decommissioned in 1963. Its current use is none, as it no longer serves as an aid to navigation. The managing authority for the lighthouse is presumed to be the U.S. Coast Guard until its decommissioning; current stewardship is unclear.

Further Information

For further information, see OpenStreetMap node: node/263426390 (“Grosse Ile North Channel Range Front Light”), U.S. Coast Guard Light List (archival editions prior to 1963), and Wayne County historical aerial imagery (available through local GIS portals).