Name and Location

The Holland Harbor Light, also known as "Big Red," is situated at 2215 Ottawa Beach Road (at the end of Lakeside Drive), Ottawa Beach, Park Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, 49424, USA. Its coordinates are 42°46′21″ N, 86��12′45″ W.

Construction and History

The first light at Holland Harbor was established in 1872 as a wooden beacon with a keeper's dwelling. The current steel tower was erected in 1907 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lighthouse has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Holland Harbor Light Station) since 1990. It is managed and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard (District 9).

Architecture and Materials

The Holland Harbor Light is a prefabricated steel skeletal tower with an enclosed gallery and lantern room. The structure is painted entirely "Big Red" to provide close-range visibility against lake and sky. It stands 48 ft (14.6 m) above its base, with a focal plane of approximately 52 ft (16 m) above lake level. Its foundation is made of concrete pier/caisson.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse exhibits a characteristic flashing red every 5 seconds (Fl R 5s). Its range is 10 nautical miles, using either an original fifth-order Fresnel lens or modern sealed beam or LED array under U.S. Coast Guard standards. The light is automated, with no specific date for automation. Nautical chart reference: NOAA Chart 14920 (Lake Michigan).

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open to the public year-round, with free admission. The tower is not open for interior visits due to U.S. Coast Guard restrictions. Visitors can access the lighthouse by car, parking at the end of Ottawa Beach Road and walking west along the concrete pier (approx. ¼ mile). Alternatively, visitors can walk or bike along Lakeside Drive to reach the breakwater. Facilities are limited, with no restrooms on the breakwater; public restrooms are available at nearby Holland State Park.

Notable Views and Landscape

Anecdotes and Folklore

The "Big Red" lighthouse has become an icon of Holland, Michigan, featured on postcards, calendars, and tourist guides. It is frequently photographed at sunrise or sunset for its vivid red silhouette against Lake Michigan. Local folklore (unverified) suggests occasional "haunting" legends of former keepers who braved winter gales.

Technical and Operational Details

Owner/operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Conservation partners include the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy and local historical societies. Maintenance includes periodic painting, structural inspection, and pier repairs by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Further Information

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Harbor_Light
• U.S. Coast Guard Light List, Volume IV (Great Lakes)
• NOAA Chart 14920 (Lake Michigan: Muskegon to Grand Haven)
• Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy – Holland Harbor Light profile
• National Register of Historic Places nomination form (1990)