The Passage Island Light Station is a lighthouse located 3.25 mi (5.23 km) NE of Isle Royale, in NW Lake Superior, Michigan on Passage Island. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.[3]
 Undated USCG photo of the station | |
 | |
| Location | SW end of Passage Is., 3.25 mi NE of Isle Royale, in NW Lake Superior, Houghton Township, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°13′27″N 88°21′57″W / 48.22417°N 88.36583°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1882 |
| Construction | fieldstone[2] |
| Automated | 1978[2] |
| Height | 44 feet (13 m)[2] |
| Markings | natural with white & red lantern[2] |
| Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place  |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1882[1] |
| Lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens[1] (original), 7.5-inch (190 mm) (current) |
Passage Island Light Station | |
| Architect | U.S. Lighthouse Board |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| MPS | Light Stations of the United States MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000632[3] |
| Added to NRHP | July 19, 2006 |
Description
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The light tower is 44 feet (13 m) high, constructed of field stone, and is square on the first level, transitioning to octagonal above.[4] It is topped with a ten-sided cast iron lantern, accessible via a spiral staircase within the tower.[4] The tower is integral with the keeper's house, which is a two-story field stone house measuring 26 by 30 feet (7.9 by 9.1 m).[4]
History
editThe need for a lighthouse between Passage Island and Isle Royale was recognized as early as the 1860s, as lake traffic increased dramatically due to the upsurge in mining in the Upper Peninsula.[4] However, it took until 1875 before Congress authorized funds for the construction of a lighthouse.[4] However, because of Congress's desire to bring political pressure to bear on the Canadian government to force them to build a lighthouse in Lake Erie, the appropriated $18,000 for Pasage Light was not released until 1880.[4] Construction began in 1881, and the light was completed the following year.[4] A fog signal was added in 1884, and in 1894 a new flashing white lens manufactured by Barbier, Benard & Turenne of Paris was installed.[4]
In 1978, the station was automated, and in 1989 a 7.5-inch (190 mm) acrylic lens was installed, replacing the Fresnel.[4]
Further reading
edit- Passage Island Light Station, Survey number HABS MI-385, Historic American Buildings Survey
- Passage Island Light Station, Lighthouse, Survey number HABS MI-385-A, Historic American Buildings Survey
- Passage Island Light Station, Fog Signal Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-B, Historic American Buildings Survey
- Passage Island Light Station, Oil Storage Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-C, Historic American Buildings Survey
- Passage Island Light Station, Privy Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-D, Historic American Buildings Survey
- Passage Island Light Station, Tramway Equipment Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-E, Historic American Buildings Survey
- Passage Island Light Station, Pump House, Survey number HABS MI-385-F, Historic American Buildings Survey
References
edit- ^ a b "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Michigan". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
- ^ a b c d Passage Island Light from the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, retrieved 8/19/09
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Passage Island Light Station from "Seeing the Light," retrieved 9/18/09
External links
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Media related to Passage Island Light Station at Wikimedia Commons
