Sand Point Lighthouse

Escanaba, Michigan

Lake Michigan

Sand Point Lighthouse, located in Ludington Park in Escanaba, Michigan, was built in 1867 and first lit on May 13, 1868. It served continuously until 1939, except for a brief time in 1886 when it was out of service due to a fire. It fell into disrepair, and was painstakingly restored in the late 1980s. It was replaced in 1939 by the offshore Escanaba Harbor Light.

After the new offshore light was operational, the Sand Point Light was converted for residential use. The top 10 feet of the tower was torn down and the spiral staircase that once led to the tower was removed. The room was raised four feet to increase the ceiling height on the second story, necessary for the construction of bedrooms. The resultant gap above the top of the old brick side walls was filled in with wood frame construction. Additional windows were cut into the original walls.

In 1985, the Coast Guard announced that the building would no longer be used as a residence, and that it might be razed. This alarmed the Delta County Historical Society, who obtained title to the property in 1985 and began planning a restoration.

This view shows the structure prior to the re-installation of a lantern room that was recovered from the abandoned Poverty Island Lighthouse. Restoration by the Delta County Historical Society resulted in reconstruction of the 10 foot tower that had been removed earlier (note differences in brick color). The roof was also lowered to its original height, and the newly-cut window openings were bricked in. The DCHS completed its restoration in 1988, and now operates Sand Point Lighthouse as a public museum.

In 1991, the Delta County Historical Society earned a Distinguished Achievement Award for its work on restoring the light.