Mission Point Light

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox lighthouse Mission Point Light is a lighthouse located in the U.S. state of Michigan at the end of Old Mission Point, a peninsula jutting into Grand Traverse Bay Template:Convert north of Traverse City. When it was built in 1870, it was an exact copy of the Mama Juda Light<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (now destroyed), which was built on the Detroit River in 1866.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The foundation is natural and emplaced. The wooden structure is painted white with black trim. The square tower is attached to a dwelling.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A fixed white Fifth Order Fresnel lens was installed. The building was only one and one half stories tall. However, its placement on a sand bank 14 feet above the lake's surface created a lens focal plane of Template:Convert. It was visible from Template:ConvertTemplate:Citation needed at sea. Maintaining the dune and protecting it and the lighthouse from the deleterious effects of wave action has been a constant struggle.<ref name="terrypepper.com">Terry Pepper, Mission Point lighthouse at Seeing the Light.</ref>

For 63 years the light served to warn mariners about the shoals off the point. It was a working lighthouse from 1870 to 1933 when it was decommissioned. However, new techniques in offshore construction and the automation of lighthouse illumination made it possible to build a navigation aid on the shoal itself. In 1938, work was completed for the new stationary buoy light in Template:Convert of water, about Template:Convert northwest of Mission Point. The light ran on batteries. It was on a Template:Convert tall tower, and its focal plane of Template:Convert help make it visible for Template:Convert. It had a 30-second dwell time between flashes, in order to conserve power.<ref name="terrypepper.com"/> It is still maintained by the Coast Guard today and only shines North.

Famously, the lighthouse stands a few hundred yards south of the 45th parallel north, halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. The lighthouse was deactivated in 1933 and purchased by the State of Michigan.<ref name="unc.edu">Template:Cite rowlett</ref> There are a pair of signs that denote its location on the parallel,<ref>Photographs, Old Mission 45th Parallel signs.</ref> and it is one of 29 places (six are in Michigan) in the U.S.A. where such signs are known to exist.<ref>List and map of 45th Parallel markers, with links to pictures (accessed 2007-12-17).</ref> In 1948, 43 local residents pooled their money to buy the lighthouse and then the Peninsula Township bought the lighthouse to restore the building.

Current status and activities

The lighthouse is located in Old Mission State Park, which is managed by Peninsula Township as Lighthouse Park, at the northern end of M-37.<ref>M-37 Endpoint Photos. Template:Webarchive</ref> Visitors to the park enjoy the beach, hiking trails and picnic areas. The lighthouse and park are managed by the Lighthouse Manager employed by Peninsula Township.The park welcomes about 100,000 visitors annually from every state and dozens of foreign countries.

As reported in the Traverse City Record Eagle, in a unique program, the lighthouse society sought volunteers to work and live in the Mission Point Light during 2008. There is a fee, which benefits the light.<ref>Lighthouse directory, Mission Point volunteer story.Template:Dead link</ref>

In 2008, the building opened for the first time to the public (it has a small museum),<ref>Wood TV 8, Lighthouse to open to public, caretakers wanted.Template:Dead link</ref> after serving for many years as the park manager's residence.<ref name="unc.edu"/> Today, the lighthouse has a very popular and unique keeper program. The weekly keepers run the gift shop from May through October and get to stay in the updated lighthouse keepers quarters. See details about the keeper program at the website www.missionpointlighthouse.com. The nonprofit Mission Point Lighthouse Keepers Association (MPLKA) helps with funding special projects and supplying volunteers. See the website www.mplka.com

The area around the lighthouse attracts many cross country skiers. The location is becoming increasingly popular, which has subjected it to environmental issues that are being addressed by Peninsula Township.<ref name="Penninsula">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Old Mission Peninsula is said to be a premier place to sea kayak.<ref name="Penninsula"/> One gets close to shore, lighthouse, picnic grounds and parks. The bay offers a shelter from the prevailing westerly winds and from the Lake Michigan waves. Maps, rentals and guided tours are available.<ref>Sea kayaking Template:Webarchive</ref>

Because of its form, surroundings and location, it is photogenic, having inspired photographs and illustrations, including drawings<ref>Mulgrew, Marilyn, Drawing of Mission Point Light. Template:Webarchive</ref> and needlepoint.<ref>Needlepoint of Mission Point Light.Template:Dead link</ref> The shoal at Mission Point is very shallow and the water is enjoyed by families and dog owners. Mission Point is visited by about 100,000 people annually. See the website for more information - www.missionpointlighthouse.com

Gallery

• Missionpoint.jpg

  Vintage image of the lighthouse

• Mission Point Light 35mm.jpg

  The lighthouse from the beach in August 2023

• Old Mission Light sign 08-04-98.jpg

  Sign adjacent to the lighthouse

• OldMission-MI-lighthouse.jpg

  Rear of the lighthouse in July 2006

• Mission Point Light.jpg

  The lighthouse in winter of 2009

• Mission Point Light (8740757835).jpg

  The lighthouse from the water in July 2010

See also

• Lighthouses in the United States

Bibliography

• Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.
• Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (2002) Template:ISBN; Template:ISBN.
• Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. Template:ISBN Template:ISBN.
• Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, American Lighthouses (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) Template:ISBN; Template:ISBN.
• Jones, Ray,The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) Template:ISBN; Template:ISBN.
• Noble, Dennis, Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). Template:ISBN; Template:ISBN.
• Oleszewski, Wes, Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) Template:ISBN.
• Penrod, John, Lighthouses of Michigan, (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) Template:ISBN Template:ISBN.
• Penrose, Laurie and Bill, A Traveler's Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses (Petoskey, Michigan: Friede Publications, 1999). Template:ISBN Template:ISBN
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• Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
• United States Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation, (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
• Template:Cite uscgnavbib
• {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Wagner, John L., Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective, (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) Template:ISBN Template:ISBN.
• Wargin, Ed, Legends of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2006). Template:ISBN.
• Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) Template:ISBN.

External links

• Template:Official website
• Aerial photos, Old Mission Point Light, marinas.com.
• Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.