Lighthouse Lesson #6: Mission Point Lighthouse Michigan

Old Mission Peninsula, rated as one of the top ten coastal drives in America, has 19 miles of beauty.  First settled by Peter Doughtery, a Presbyterian minister sent to established a church and school for Native Americans, he planted the first cherry tree on the peninsula.  When Peter moved from the peninsula, his new location was called "New Mission", so the peninsula was called "Old Mission".  Now visitors enjoy the cherry trees, beaches, and sea kayaking.  You should enjoy the Mission Point Lighthouse.

A postcard perfect lighthouse, so I entered the gift shop to buy a postcard.  It reads "Mission Point Lighthouse, built in 1870 on a sand dune, located 18 miles north of downtown Traverse City, Michigan at the end of Old Mission Peninsula."  During the 1860's, a large ship hit a shallow reef and sank in the area.  Congress set aside funds and the lighthouse first lit in 1870.  The lighthouse guided mariners through West Grand Traverse Bay from 1870 to 1933.  Built on a dune, mariners could see the light 13 miles away.  The dune location meant the lighthouse didn't need to be constructed super high.  The first lighthouse had a cylindrical shape.  The second and present lighthouse is the white painted wood lighthouse with black trim and the tower stands only 36 feet high.  After a buoy with light replaced the need for the lighthouse, the lighthouse sat abandoned for awhile and hurt by vandals who also stole the Fresnel lens.  Then 43 residents purchased the lighthouse and volunteers operate the museum and gift shop.  The lighthouse was added to the National and State Historic Register.

In 2011, the Coast Guard lent a fifth-order Fresnel lens to the lighthouse.  You can see lighthouse items and learn more about the history by paying a $5 fee to enter the small museum and climb the stairs to the tower.

Besides learning about maritime history, check out the sign about the 45th Parallell North.  The actual point is offshore, but the sign explains you are nearly halfway between the North Pole and the Equator.

Situated between beach and forest, also take time to enjoy the nature.  Only 37 steps down to the boardwalk and beach.  The volunteer lighthouse keepers keep the sand out of the lighthouse and paths, so take a moment to thank them.  Bring the swimsuits.  The water is a beautiful blue and kids might look for Petoskey stones.  Besides making purchases at the gift shop, you can also support the lighthouse by purchasing a special lighthouse wine from Bowers Harbor Vineyard.  If you visit in the winter, you can't go inside the lighthouse (only open May to October, 10AM-5PM).  You can stroll along the beach and trails and look for a snowy owl.