Tawas Point Light is located in Tawas Point State Park, off Tawas Bay in Lake Huron, Baldwin Township, Northern Michigan.
History
In 1850, Congress gave $5,000 to build a lighthouse. Construction began in 1852, and the lighthouse was completed in 1853. After it was built, many problems occurred. Moving sand caused the land to extend by nearly a mile. The original light used a 5th Order Fresnel lens, which was later replaced when the building was rebuilt.
In 1867, the lighthouse inspector reported that the structure was deteriorating and needed repairs. The Lighthouse Board ignored the request for more funding because they had other urgent issues at Ottawa Point. Waves caused sand to build up near the point, adding almost a mile of new land. The lighthouse became so far inland that sailors could not see its light. The light was also known to be very dim. These problems led to a shipwreck involving Captain Olmstead’s schooner "Dolphin." He blamed the lighthouse for being too hard to see. This made the Lighthouse Board reconsider rebuilding it. In 1875, Congress approved $30,000 for a new lighthouse, which was completed in 1877.
The location was originally called Ottawa Point but was renamed Tawas Point in 1902. Tawas Point is a major danger to ships navigating the area. Tawas Bay, located behind the point, provides protection from storms, wind, and waves from the north and northeast. The point extends into Lake Huron and has grown larger over time. A map shows the land added by sand. The original lighthouse was built in 1852 and finished in 1853. It used lard oil, then kerosene, and now uses electricity. This is the second lighthouse built on the point.
The tower is 70 feet (21 meters) tall, including the base. It has a base diameter of 16 feet (4.9 meters) and a parapet diameter of 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 meters). The tower has a brick outer wall and an inner wall that are 24 inches (610 mm) and 8 inches (203 mm) thick, respectively. There is a 24-inch (610 mm) air gap between the walls. The tower contains a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. The light can be seen up to 16 miles (26 kilometers) away and is 70 feet (21 meters) above Lake Huron’s average water level. The Keeper’s House is 43 feet (13 meters) long and 26 feet (7.9 meters) wide.
In the 2000s, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, with help from the Friends of Tawas Point State Park, remodeled the house. The downstairs became a museum about the lighthouse, and the upstairs was converted into living quarters for volunteers to rent for one or two weeks. Volunteers may stay for up to two weeks.
Because of its beauty and location, the lighthouse is often photographed and used in needlepoint art.
The Tawas lifesaving station has been saved, and renovations are ongoing.
The Fresnel lens is still working and is one of only 70 such lenses still in use in the United States. Sixteen of these are on the Great Lakes, and eight are in Michigan.
In October 2015, the Coast Guard announced plans to replace the Fresnel lens with a modern beacon. However, after public feedback, the lens remained in place.
Current events
A smaller version of the Tawas Point Light, named the "Tri-Centennial Light of Detroit," was built in William G. Milliken State Park. This lighthouse is 63 feet tall and helps guide ships into the harbor. It is considered the first conical brick structure of its kind in Michigan since 1892 and honors the state's history of maritime activity on the Great Lakes.