Barry and I arrived in Mackinaw City on Aug 7th. I was anxious to go to Mackinac Island, but the weather took a bit of planning around which we did, and everything worked out perfectly! Luckily, since we were here for 3 nights, we had some flexibility. We stayed at TeePee Campground which was right on Lake Huron overlooking the Straits of Mackinaw. It was cool to see the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge, known as Might Mac around here. The thick cloud cover reminded me of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
We went into Mackinaw City to the Michilimackinac State Park. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Colonial Michilimackinac were both here. We purchased the combo admission ticket, since any ticket purchased after 3 PM is also good for the following day. This worked out great. We checked out the lighthouse, the keeper’s home, and the small museum, and saved the fort for tomorrow.
Tour of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
This historical site was so well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned much more than I expected. I appreciated getting a feel for the life of the light keepers here, and their families.
The Straits of Mackinac is a treacherous area for ships. Ships have been blown off course into dangerous shoals. Fog, swirling currents and winter ice add to the difficulty of navigating this area. The photo below shows several sites of recorded shipwrecks.
McGulpin Point Lighthouse was constructed near the center of the straits in 1869. Although it was sufficient for ships approaching from the west, it proved ineffective for ships from the east. In 1889, Old Mackinac Point was determined to be the best location for visibility from either direction.
More than a dozen lighthouses were constructed throughout the Straits of Mackinac between 1829 and 1947. Ten are still active today!
Mackinac Point Lighthouse is no longer active. Once the Might Mac (Bridge) was built the lighthouse here was no longer needed. More on that later.
Every lighthouse has a unique light pattern. This aids sailors in knowing where they are when visibility is limited. The following display explained how they could make the beacon of light unique to each lighthouse. Old Mackinac Point’s signature light was that a red flash every 10 seconds. In 1913, the Lighthouse Service changed the red light to a white one for ease of maintenance and to alleviate confusion with two additional red signal lights in the Straits.
In addition to the fresnel light system, light stations also used sound to alert sailors of dangers. When the tower lights are obscured, the fog signal was essential for the safety of those navigating these waters. The sound for this warning began with a cannon being shot, but it meant the keeper would have to continually fire a cannon during inclement weather. Next bells were used. These large cast iron bells can still be seen at lighthouse locations, but aren’t the primary sound alert. Today, bells are incorporated in many large navigation buoys. If you read a future blog that includes the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, you will likely hear the bell ringing out from the water. The rougher the sea, the more you will hear a buoy bell. The wave action cause bell to sound. At the light station, however, the diaphone horn was favored. It is a low two-tone vibration sound that is the iconic fog horn that we love to hear today.
The fog warning sounds were low frequency vibrations that would carry long distances. The fog signals, however, needed to be unique to each light station just as the warning light for each was unique.
Old Mackinac Point’s identifiable fog signal consisted of two 5-second blast per minute. (Each one-minute cycle began with a 5-sec blast, then 17 seconds of silence, followed by a second 5-sec blast with 33 seconds of silence to complete the minute cycle).
I assumed the lighthouse was always the first priority at every site, and that fog signal systems were added later when it was realized that more was needed. The fog signal system building at Old Mackinac Point was completed two years before the lighthouse was built. The fog signal here began with a single 10-inch steam whistle. A second whistle was added, but only one whistle and one boiler was used at a time. The other set is maintained as backup. In 1933, the steam whistle was replaced with air horns.
Daymark…WHAT is a daymark?
It was important for sailors to identify/confirm their location even in clear daylight. Therefore, the physical appearance is also unique to each lighthouse. This is called the “daymark”. The construction design of towers and keepers home certainly distinguish one from another, but even the “standard schoolhouse” design of lighthouses will be differentiated through use of paint, roof color, painted lantern rooms, added woodwork, etc. Old Mackinac Point’s daymark consisted of a yellow brick building and tower with a red roof and a black lantern room. White Shoal Light (also in the Straits) has the daymark of red and white “barber pole” striping on the light tower. Clockwork mechanisms, similar to grand father clocks that spun light lenses automatically, sounded the fog signals
Inside the light tower
We made it into the last group for the day that is escorted to the top of the light tower. The “tour” is limited to 10 people for safety reasons. I was surprised how challenging the climb was for several of the other 8 people in our group.
So what does a lighthouse keeper do?
Meet the Keepers of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse!
The Lighthouse Service demanded the “utmost neatness of the lighthouse buildings and premises”. Any untidiness was “strongly reprehended” and could lead to the dismissal of the keeper! So all the open living areas including every bedroom and outdoor play areas for the children had to be clean, and neat.
This small museum had several models of various shipwrecks, but weather issues were not always the sole cause of a ship’s demise. The responsibility spanned the entire maritime industry. Shipping companies pressed captains for quick cargo deliveries, neglected to maintain vessels or upgrade equipment, and resisted government safety regulations. Driven by company policy or their own egos, captains regularly sailed into hazards. Instead of anchoring to ride out storms, or slowing down in fog or darkness, they recklessly plowed ahead. Crew members neglected their duties, made navigation errors, or ignored safety equipment and procedures. Above all, only rarely did anyone raise concerns about unsafe practices. Instead, the entire Great Lakes maritime industry sailed complacently ahead, losing and killing crews on a disturbingly regular basis.
I found the ship “before and after” displays really cool. Each had the ship model afloat with the sunken version below it.
Completion of the Mackinac Bridge Changes Lighthouse Operation
Once the “Mighty Mac” (Mackinac Bridge) was completed in November 1957, the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse was no longer needed. The Mighty Mac has two flashing beacons at the top of each of its towers. These help alert aircraft as well as ships. The bridge towers reach 552 feet above the water. Mighty Mac connects the Mackinaw City to St. Ignace located on the upper peninsula (UP).
Our various views of the Mighty Mac.
Today’s visit to Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and grounds was much more than I expected! We are looking forward to coming back tomorrow to tour Colonial Michilimackinac.