Au Sable Point Lighthouse
MVF6+37 Sullivans Landing, MI, USA
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Au Sable Point Lighthouse (sometimes “Au Sable Light���) is located in MVF6+37 Sullivans Landing, Burt Township, Alger County, Michigan 49839, USA. The coordinates are 46.6726764 N, –86.1393713 W.
Construction and History
The lighthouse was built in 1873 and first lit on April 15, 1874. It was constructed by the U.S. Lighthouse Board and is a conical brick tower with an attached fog signal building. The original light source was a first-order Fresnel lens, which was removed in 1995.
Architecture and Materials
The lighthouse stands at 87 feet (26.5 meters) above its base, with a focal plane of approximately 110 feet (33.5 meters) above lake level. The tower is made of cream brick, while the cast-iron lantern has a red-painted roof. The interior lens diameter is 12 feet, with a gallery deck that is 4 feet wide.
Light and Navigation
The current optic is a Vega VRB-25 solar-powered light, which flashes two white lights every 10 seconds (Fl(2)W 10s). The nominal range is 16 nautical miles (19 statute miles).
Accessibility and Visiting
The lighthouse grounds are publicly accessible year-round, with no fee. However, the tower interior is open seasonally (late May to mid-October) on weekends and holidays by guided tour only. Visitors can access the site via a 1.5-mile hike along the North Country Trail from Lumberman’s Monument parking lot off H-58.
Notable Views and Landscape
The lighthouse sits atop a 25-foot dune ridge on Lake Superior’s southern shore, offering panoramic views of the lake to the north and east, as well as sunsets over Lake Superior. The surrounding landscape features a mixed pine-fir forest and shifting sands (dune migration documented since late 19th century).
Anecdotes and Folklore
The area has claimed dozens of shipwrecks in the 19th century, prompting the construction of the lighthouse. Locals sometimes refer to it as “The White Lady of Lake Superior” and report hearing ghostly fog signal blasts on calm, moonlit nights.
Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse was automated in 1958 and is currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Hiawatha National Forest) in partnership with the Au Sable Light Historical Society. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #83003476).
Further Information
- For more information, visit the official USFS page or the Au Sable Light Historical Society website.
Details
| Name | Au Sable Point Lighthouse |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Country | Usa |
| Coordinates | 46.6726764, -86.1393713 |
| Website | https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=724 |
| Year of construction | 1873 |
| Events | Shipwrecks: The reef-strewn waters at Au Sable Point have claimed dozens of vessels in the 19th century, prompting the light’s construction. |
| Stories | Locals sometimes call it “The White Lady of Lake Superior” (unverified) and report hearing ghostly fog signal blasts on calm, moonlit nights (anecdotal). |
| Architectural style | Conical brick tower with attached fog signal building |
| Architect | U.S. Lighthouse Board |
| Construction material | {"tower":"Cream brick","lantern":"Cast-iron"} |
| Access description | 1.5 mile hike along North Country Trail from Lumberman’s Monument parking lot off H-58 (see USFS signage) |
| Accessible | true |
| Landscape type | Mixed pine–fir forest; shifting sands (dune migration documented since late 19th century) |
| View description | Panoramic lake vistas to the north and east; sunsets over Lake Superior; shoreline cliffs in the distance |
| Guided tours | true |
| Facilities | small visitor center (summer months), restrooms, picnic area |
| Opening hours | {"seasonal":true,"hours":"Weekends and holidays"} |
| Nearby attractions | [object Object], [object Object], [object Object] |
| AIS Radar | false |