MACKINAW CITY — At the very northern point of Emmet County, the McGulpin Point Lighthouse has kept watch over the Straits of Mackinac since 1869. In active operation until 1906, the lighthouse was ... McGulpin Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City will soon have a new display that shines a light on maritime history in the Straits region.

Understanding the Context

The Emmet County Board of Commissioners recently approved ... Owned and preserved by Emmet County, the historic McGulpin Point Lighthouse faithfully protected shipping on the Straits of Mackinac from 1869 to 1906. Today, its 10-acre site, with 336 feet of shoreline, offers the public a commanding view of the Mackinac Bridge and the beautiful straits. The McGulpin Point Light, a true lighthouse with a light tower and attached lighthouse keeper 's living quarters, was completed by the United States Lighthouse Board in 1869 at a cost of $20,000.

Key Insights

On , Congress appropriated $20,000 for a lighthouse at McGulpin Point. A ten-acre site was selected for the lighthouse, but condemnation proceedings under the laws of the State of Michigan had to be instituted in 1867 to obtain title to the land. Emmet County owns the historic McGulpin Point Lighthouse, which protected shipping on the Straits of Mackinac against storms, fog and rocks between 1869 and 1906. It was purchased by the county in 2008, which reopened McGulpin to the public with a gala celebration on . McGulpin Point operated as a lighthouse from 1869 to 1906, when it was decommissioned.

Final Thoughts

It was purchased by Emmet County in 2008 and has been restored to period decor inside and among the grounds. McGulpin Point Lighthouse (1869) is located on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, 2 miles west of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse near the Mackinaw City, Michigan village limit. To answer that need, the Lighthouse Board petitioned Congress for the construction of a lighthouse and fog bell at McGulpin Point, approximately two miles west of Fort Michilimackinac. First lit in 1869, the McGulpin Point Lighthouse was a pivotal navigational tool for ships on Lake Michigan. The lighthouse marked the southwestern edge of the Straits of Mackinac entrance and is located on a promontory just west of Mackinaw City in Northern Michigan. Fun, short walk through woods on a wood-mulched path to the shoreline with a view of the Mackinac bridge.

Signage along the path, along with an online commentary, provide the history of McGulpin Point. Life-sized silhouettes add an unexpected something extra to the walk.