Whitefish Point

As promised, we start this journey with a place very close to me. With Michigan being surrounded by water it’s only natural for there to be lighthouses scattered along the shoreline. Although beautiful to look at, lighthouses have become somewhat obsolete. Few stand uninhabited left to the elements, while most have been fully restored and converted into museums. The Great Lakes Lighthouse Association makes sure these iconic landmarks are always able to be visited. The purpose of a lighthouse is to make sure those navigating the treacherous waters always stay out of harms reach from the many hidden shoals. Each lighthouse has it’s own distinct identity based on it’s light, two second flash followed by four seconds dark etc… This is to make sure no matter what light the captain see they will always know where they are. Thanks to modern technology and the aid of GPS, lighthouses aren’t really needed much anymore.

Whitefish point extends out into Lake Superior giving shape to the appropriately named Whitefish Bay. It sits about ten miles north of the quaint town of Paradise, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula.  Whitefish Point is commonly known for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. It pays homage to roughly 15 wrecks all of which lie scattered along the bottom of Lake Superior in the Whitefish Bay area. The popular SS Edmund Fitzgerald, 729 foot Great Lakes freighter lies 17 miles off the point. Divers retrieved the bell the from vessel and that can be viewed in the museum. The museum also hold artifacts from the various wrecks and pieces from the wrecks themselves.

Whitefish Point is also home to the Whitefish Point Light. It is the oldest and most important lighthouse on Lake Superior. All vessels coming and going from Lake superior must pass it, for this reason it’s a great place to watch for freighters. The Tower itself has a very unique look to it. Unlike other lighthouses the one at Whitefish Point is a Steel and lattice tower. The keepers dwelling and the tower are painted white with a dark green trim around the windows and a bright red roof. Yes, it looks like Christmas. The tower stands 76 feet and is now fully automated with a LED lantern. The light has a range of 17 nautical miles or approximately 15 miles. What does that mean? It mean the light can be seen out on the lake up to 15 miles away. Tickets to tour the dwelling and climb the tower can be purchased inside the museum.

Heading toward the lake the paved footpath begins to get lost beneath the sand. A wooden boardwalk will begin to rise giving way to a observation platform giving you a  beautiful view over looking Lake Superior. Standing on the platform you can look down over the many rocks that paint the shore in shades reds, oranges and blacks. You might be able to catch a passing freighter too. There is access to the beach from the boardwalk. I recommend either wearing sandals that strap to your feet or just going barefoot. I warn you though, some of the rock are known to bite! Down on the  beach I’m sure you’ll see people with buckets, bags, coolers, really anything that can hold rocks. Rock hounds looking for the ever popular and beautiful Lake Superior agate. Now I’ve been told many different characteristics of these elusive rocks. My advice to you is to either do your research or pick yourself up a Lake Superior agate field guide, I have one and it does wonders. If you are on the hunt for agates, don’t get discouraged if you can’t or haven’t found one. I recommend going far in either direction on the beach away from people and just dig in! Even if you aren’t looking for agates, Lake Superior has some very beautiful rocks. Find some you think are pretty to take take home, that way you will have a piece of the lake always in your house.

Like I said, Whitefish Point has always been one of my favorite places in the state. When I was just a little boy I spent the summers with my grandparents going to various lighthouses. Whitefish Point stood out to me because of the unique tower, the Edmund Fitzgerald and the scenery. Every time I go there I can still remember being a five year old and I can still feel my grandpa’s arm around my shoulder. I hope I’ve convinced you to visit or at least put this beautiful place on your Michigan bucket list.