The Little Sable Point Light is a lighthouse located south of Pentwater in the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the southwest corner of Golden Township, just south of Silver Lake State Park.
The lighthouse was designed by Col. Orlando M. Poe and is known as "a classic Poe tower." The structure was built using 109 wooden poles, each 1 foot in diameter, driven into the sand. These poles were covered with 12 feet of stone to create a strong base for the brick tower. The tower’s walls are 5 feet (1.5 meters) thick at the bottom and 2 feet (0.61 meters) thick at the top.
History
After the Schooner Pride sank in 1866, people demanded a light at this location, and their requests were finally accepted. Congress approved money in 1871, but construction began in 1874 because there were no roads to the site.
The station was first called "Petite Pointe Au Sable Lighthouse," a name used in most official records. However, the name was officially changed to "Little Point Sable Light" in 1910. Though often called "Little Sable Point Light," the National Park Service lists it as "Little Point Sable Light."
The lantern room has eight fixed panels in the lower section and ten rotating panels in the upper section.
In 1954, the Lighthouse keeper’s dwelling was destroyed by the Coast Guard when electricity was brought to the site, and the light was automated. Signs that the dwelling and tower were connected are visible to visitors.
Before 1900, the brick was left in its natural color and condition because it was unusually strong and lasted well in the weather. (Unlike its sister light, Big Sable Point Light, which used Cream City Brick and required steel covering to prevent damage.) Keeping the brick in its natural color helped the Lighthouse keeper, who avoided the need to paint it yearly. In 1900, the light was painted white for the first time to address complaints from sailors who found the brick hard to see. It remained white until 1975, when it was sandblasted and returned to its natural color. The lantern is covered by a copper roof.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse (built in 1867) is the same height and located several miles to the north. At night, it can be distinguished from Little Sable by its fixed white light. During the day, it is identified by its black-and-white striped tower.
For the first time in over 50 years (last open in 1949), the lighthouse opened to the public in June 2006. Visitors can now climb its 139 steps to see the Third Order Fresnel lens (made by Sautter & Co. of Paris) and enjoy the view of the surrounding landscape. It is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from the first weekend in June through the end of September.
The original Third Order Fresnel lens is still in use, making this lighthouse relatively rare. It is one of only 70 such lenses still working in the United States, 16 of which are on the Great Lakes, with 8 located in Michigan.
The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is not on the State Register, but it is protected as part of a state park.
Access
Little Sable Point is located in Silver Lake State Park, near Mears, Michigan. The lighthouse parking lot is off North Lighthouse Drive. To reach it, take Silver Lake Road to its southern end, where you will find North Lighthouse Drive. Follow the road for a little over a mile. The area has a good swimming beach, and Lake Michigan has beautiful sunsets. There are about 200 parking spaces, but they are shared with visitors who use the beach. Because it is part of a Michigan State Park, a fee is charged for cars entering the park. A climbing fee of $1 helps preserve the lighthouse. Children pay $5, and adults pay $8.