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ST. JOSEPH Home of one of Michigan's oldest lighthouses The St. Joseph Historic Lighthouse and catwalk, located on the city's North Pier, was erected at the mouth of the St. Joseph River in 1832. It was one of the first two lighthouses built on Lake Michigan. It is thought to have been the home of the late Captain Pickering. In 1859, a replacement lighthouse was built on the bluff. The tower and beacon were constructed first. The lightkeeper's house was built around it later. That beacon was replaced by range lights after the north and south piers were built in 1907 and 1919, respectively. St. Joseph and Grand Haven boast the only remaining two-pier range light systems with both towers and catwalks intact. In 1938, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibilities for navigation warning signals and marine safety, absorbing the lighthouse services. The original St. Joseph lighthouse with tower and beacon was torn down in 1955. The current lighthouse replica was constructed later on the North Pier. Both the North and South Pier - which house the range lights - are publicly accessible. The current North Pier lighthouse was recently featured by the U.S. Postal Service in a series of commemorative Great Lakes Lighthouse stamps. Information provided by Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council, Benton Harbor MapLink       GPS[42.1145° N, 86.4855° W] SOUTH HAVEN Lighthouse Lore South Haven is home to the notable South Pierhead Lighthouse. Built in 1872, the original 37-foot wooden tower was two stories tall. The lower level was used for storage. The upper level housed the lens and a fifth order fun lamp which ran on mineral oil. The 35-foot steel tower that now stands on the pier was constructed in 1903. The ship Hyacinth transported the steel structure and U.S. Lighthouse Establishment workers built the light. It eventually was electrified in 1923, utilizing a 200 watt bulb. The pier itself has undergone several transformations over the years. Originally 300 feet in length, it was rebuilt twice before 1900. In 1913, it was extended 425 feet, making the wooden structure more than 700 feet in length. In 1925, 800 feet of steel elevated walkway was taken from the Calumet station, brought to South Haven and reinstalled on the pier. Then in 1940, today's 1200-foot concrete pier was constructed. No one knows when the first fog signal was used. A 1900 account cites the use of a bellows-type operated by hand. In 1913, the fog signal was replaced by a 1600-pound electrified fog bell. It remained in use until 1937 when a drone-type fog horn was installed. It could be heard seven to fifteen miles away, depending on the weather. The South Pierhead lighthouse is open for public tours one weekend each year, during the annual Harborfest. Information provided by South Haven Visitors Bureau. MapLink       GPS[42.4013° N, 86.2828° W] Back to the top Back Home