Gull Rock Lighthouse

Keweenaw County, Michigan, USA

Lake Superior

Gull Rock is located two miles due east of the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The exposed chunk of rock that is visible above Lake Superior's waves is just the tip of a hazardous underwater reef. The light, still an active aid to navigation, is equipped with a 250 mm plastic optic.

To protect mariners sailing through the dangerous passage between the Keweenaw Peninsula and Manitou Island, in 1866 Congress appropriated $15,000 to build the Gull Rock Lighthouse. In became operational the next year, and was first lit on November 1, 1867. It had a fourth-order Fresnel lens made by by Barbier and Fenestre of Paris. Keepers included James Corgan, who was appointed in 1878.

This brick structure was built from the same plans used to construct the nearby Copper Harbor Lighthouse. The attached square tower is 46' high, placing the focal plane 50' above the water level.

Gull Rock is one of the most desolate outposts imaginable. During storms, Lake Superior's waves wash over the entire surface of the rock. It must have been tough to get to the outdoor privy in bad weather!

Gull Rock Lighthouse is abandoned and closed to the public. It is considered endangered and is included on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List.

The Wreck of the Waldo

On 8 November 1913 the steamer Waldo, nearly 5,000 tons, was driven onto Gull Rock, off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior. The wind was about 70 miles an hour and the sea very rough. The vessel broke in two and the imperiled people took shelter in the cabin, where they remained for 90 hours without food. News of the wreck reached the Eagle Harbor Life-Saving Station on 9 November and the crew made a brave effort on that day to reach the vessel in a power surfboat. After having proceeded 8 miles, the great amount of ice on the small boat made it impossible to go farther. The boat, therefore, returned to the station.

The larger and more powerful lifeboat was undergoing repairs when word concerning the wreck was received. When it was found impracticable to effect a rescue with the surfboat, the crew returned to their task and made it ready to go to sea. The power lifeboat was launched at 3 AM on 11 November. After four hours of making way in rough seas and being exposed to the snow and freezing wind, the crew reached the Waldo, 32 miles from the station.

Information concerning the disaster was not received at the Portage Life-Saving Station until noon on 10 November. The shortest distance to the wreck was 60 miles, but the keeper, chose to benefit from the protection afforded by the ship canal to Portage Entry. By taking this latter route, the distance to the Waldo was 80 miles. The keeper, before starting, coordinated for a tug to meet the power lifeboat as it emerged from the canal. The tug towed the lifeboat to the scene of the wreck. They arrived on scene at 3 AM on the 11th.

While the Portage crewmen chopped the thick ice encasing the Waldo’s cabin, the Eagle Harbor crew arrived. Both lifeboats were ice-logged. This made maneuvering the boats more difficult and increased the hazard of the rescue. Despite these difficulties, the lifesavers, in the face of great danger, landed the 22 men and 2 women, all hands, and the ship’s dog safely at Houghton, MI.

In awarding the keepers and surfmen a Gold Lifesaving Medal, the department recognized the good judgment, skill, and undaunted heroism which stands with the most praiseworthy instances of bravery in the annals of the service.

Information about the wreck of the Waldo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard archives.