Name and Location

The Pointe Betsie Lighthouse, also charted as “Point Betsie Light,” LLNR 18370, is situated on the northeast point of Lake Michigan, marking the entrance to Grand Traverse Bay. Its official address is 3701 Point Betsie Road, Frankfort, Lake Township, Benzie County, Michigan 49635, USA.

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was built in 1858 as part of the U.S. Lighthouse Board's mid-19th century expansion of the Great Lakes light network. The standard design was used by the U.S. Lighthouse Board, with no individual architect recorded. The original purpose was to guide mariners into Grand Traverse Bay.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse features a conical brick tower attached to a two-story keeper's dwelling, typical of mid-1800s federal lighthouse design. The structure is constructed from yellow and red face brick, with sandstone trim and a cast-iron lantern room. The foundation is made of wood and stone.

4. Light and Navigation

The original lens was a fifth-order Fresnel lens installed in 1858, still in place today. The light has a range of 19 nautical miles and exhibits a characteristic flashing white every 10 seconds (Fl W 10 s).

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the lighthouse via parking lot off Point Betsie Road, followed by a short walk over boardwalk and dunes (uneven terrain – sturdy footwear recommended). The keeper's quarters now serve as a visitor center and gift shop. Guided tower climbs are available on the hour, offering panoramic views from the lantern deck.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks a classic Lake Michigan shoreline of sand dunes, cedars, and sugar-sand beaches. The site offers stunning sunrise and sunset vistas across Grand Traverse Bay and Manitou Islands. Migratory bird sightings, including terns and kingfishers, are common, as well as autumn hawk migrations.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Notable keepers include William Shute, who served from 1858 to 1873, and his daughter, who reportedly spotted wreckage at dusk, leading to timely rescues. In December 1913, ice floes severely damaged the dock, requiring keepers to clear ice by hand for weeks. Rumors of ghost lights have been reported near the abandoned fog signal building.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was automated in 1979, with the keeper's dwelling decommissioned. The active light is managed by Pointe Betsie Lighthouse Keepers, Inc., a non-profit leaseholder under Benzie County ownership, with the U.S. Coast Guard retaining responsibility for the active light.

9. Further Information

https://pointbetsie.org/">https://pointbetsie.org/ or explore the National Register of Historic Places nomination (NRHP 84001375) at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm">https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm.