Lake Michigan
Lighthouses and
Shipwrecks.
Got Lighthouses?
Abso-tively!
If you have the Lake Michigan shoreline in your backyard, you've just gotta have lighthouses, right? Thanks to
its abundant network of bays, rivers and other waterways, the Traverse City area has had its own water-
based highway system for many, many generations. For generations the waterways have helped lumber
barons get their lumber to markets as well as local farmers getting their crops to market each year. Some
areas developed into flourishing fishing towns as well as vacation home destinations for many that visit
Northern Michigan for all the things to do in this area.
Lighthouses at the water’s edge, fishing towns, shipwrecks and living history museums remind area visitors
and locals alike, of the history of this region. Although the area’s maritime industry is diminished, it’s not
entirely gone. On the west coast of the Leelanau Peninsula, you can watch big freighters and tankers work
their way through the Manitou Passage. The Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City is home to the
nation’s only freshwater maritime academy. Cadets train for careers as deck and engineering officers in the
Great Lakes commercial fleet.
Fox Island Lighthouse Northport, MI 49670
South Fox Island lies about 16 1/2 miles north-northwest of Lighthouse Point in Leelanau County, Michigan,
making it the most isolated island in Lake Michigan.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse & Museum 15550 N. Lighthouse Road, Northport
One of the oldest lighthouses on the lakes, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse at the tip of the Leelanau
Peninsula has guided ships through the northern entrance to the Manitou Passage for 150 years. Located 9
miles north of Northport in the Leelanau State Park, the lighthouse was home to generations of keepers and
their families. Extensive exhibits show visitors what their lives and the experiences of those who sailed the
lakes was like. A gift shop and picnic facilities are available. Near many accommodations and beach vacation
rentals.
North Manitou Island Shoal Light On North Manitou Island, Leland, MI 49654
Located in Lake Michigan between North Manitou Island and the Leelanau Peninsula, this lighthouse was built
in 1935 to mark an unusual and dangerous shoal, and is still in operation today. The lighthouse is not open for
tours, but it can be viewed up-close from the ferry that takes visitors from Leland to the Manitou Islands.
Old Mission Lighthouse Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, MI 49686
The Mission Point Lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn ships away from the dangerous shoals extending into
Grand Traverse Bay at the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula. It is the centerpiece of an attractive park with
popular beaches, exhibits and extensive hiking and skiing trails. It is a popular destination. Self-guided tours
are available 7 days a week.
Point Betsie Lighthouse M-22, Frankfort, MI 49635
Point Betsie, 4 miles north of Frankfort on M-22, marks the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage. There
has been a lighthouse here since 1858. The current structure was the last manned lighthouse on this side of
Lake Michigan and was not automated until 1983. Because of its bright color scheme and its scenic location
at the very edge of the water, it is said to be the second most-photographed lighthouse in the U.S. and is a
favorite place for watching sunsets. This lighthouse is open for tours.
Robert Manning Memorial Lighthouse At the city beach on Lake Michigan, Empire, MI 49630
Robert H. Manning was a life-long resident of Empire who spent as much time as possible fishing on Lake
Michigan. He wanted to see a lighthouse built at Empire for returning fishermen. After his death in 1989,
the Manning family and friends raised money to build this tiny lighthouse on the beach.
South Manitou Island Light On South Manitou Island, Leland, MI 49654
One of the most scenic lighthouses in the country, the light station on South Manitou Island was established
in 1839 to mark the location of the only natural harbor between northern Michigan and Chicago. Ships took
refuge here during storms and steamers stopped to take on wood for their boilers. It is 100-foot tall and dates
to 1871. Decommissioned in 1958, the lighthouse is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
and is open for regular guided tours during the summer. The island is accessible by ferry service from Leland.
Great Lakes Maritime Academy, 715 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: (231) 995-1200
A part of Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, the Academy trains men and women for careers as
Merchant Marine officers aboard Great Lakes vessels and oceangoing ships. It is one of nation's 7 maritime
academies affiliated with a community college. Housed in the college's new Great Lakes Campus, the
Academy includes a working marina and several boats, including the 225-foot training vessel State of
Michigan. Its extensive historical and maritime exhibits are open to the public and visitors are welcome
Monday through Friday.
Inland Seas Education Association 101 Dame, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Phone: (231) 271-3077
Since 1989, the Inland Seas Education Association has operated "floating classroom" programs where people of
all ages can learn about the ecology of the Great Lakes by spending a half-day sailing and studying science on
Grand Traverse Bay. From June until August.
Maritime Heritage Alliance 13272 SW Bayshore Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: (213) 946-2647
The Maritime Heritage Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting and
promoting an appreciation of the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes. Dockside tours of our ships are
available in ports of call around the Great Lakes.
Shipwrecks Traverse City, MI 49684
Over the centuries ships sank in the waters around Traverse City. Only a few dozen of these wrecks have
been located. Many are in the deep waters of the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve and can only be
reached by boat and scuba equipment. A few of these hulks are in shallow water and can easily be reached
from shore by snorkelers. The 160-foot steamer "Three Brothers" and the 246-foot freighter "Francisco
Morazon," are both located off South Manitou Island, while the "Rising Sun" lies off Pyramid Point south of
Leland. The remains of the 124-foot schooner "Metropolis" can be found just north of Old Mission Harbor.
Once of the few reasons scuba diving has become so popular in this area.
Lighthouses and
Shipwrecks.
Got Lighthouses?
Abso-tively!
If you have the Lake Michigan shoreline in your backyard, you've just gotta have lighthouses, right? Thanks to
its abundant network of bays, rivers and other waterways, the Traverse City area has had its own water-
based highway system for many, many generations. For generations the waterways have helped lumber
barons get their lumber to markets as well as local farmers getting their crops to market each year. Some
areas developed into flourishing fishing towns as well as vacation home destinations for many that visit
Northern Michigan for all the things to do in this area.
Lighthouses at the water’s edge, fishing towns, shipwrecks and living history museums remind area visitors
and locals alike, of the history of this region. Although the area’s maritime industry is diminished, it’s not
entirely gone. On the west coast of the Leelanau Peninsula, you can watch big freighters and tankers work
their way through the Manitou Passage. The Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City is home to the
nation’s only freshwater maritime academy. Cadets train for careers as deck and engineering officers in the
Great Lakes commercial fleet.
Fox Island Lighthouse Northport, MI 49670
South Fox Island lies about 16 1/2 miles north-northwest of Lighthouse Point in Leelanau County, Michigan,
making it the most isolated island in Lake Michigan.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse & Museum 15550 N. Lighthouse Road, Northport
One of the oldest lighthouses on the lakes, the Grand Traverse Lighthouse at the tip of the Leelanau
Peninsula has guided ships through the northern entrance to the Manitou Passage for 150 years. Located 9
miles north of Northport in the Leelanau State Park, the lighthouse was home to generations of keepers and
their families. Extensive exhibits show visitors what their lives and the experiences of those who sailed the
lakes was like. A gift shop and picnic facilities are available. Near many accommodations and beach vacation
rentals.
North Manitou Island Shoal Light On North Manitou Island, Leland, MI 49654
Located in Lake Michigan between North Manitou Island and the Leelanau Peninsula, this lighthouse was built
in 1935 to mark an unusual and dangerous shoal, and is still in operation today. The lighthouse is not open for
tours, but it can be viewed up-close from the ferry that takes visitors from Leland to the Manitou Islands.
Old Mission Lighthouse Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, MI 49686
The Mission Point Lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn ships away from the dangerous shoals extending into
Grand Traverse Bay at the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula. It is the centerpiece of an attractive park with
popular beaches, exhibits and extensive hiking and skiing trails. It is a popular destination. Self-guided tours
are available 7 days a week.
Point Betsie Lighthouse M-22, Frankfort, MI 49635
Point Betsie, 4 miles north of Frankfort on M-22, marks the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage. There
has been a lighthouse here since 1858. The current structure was the last manned lighthouse on this side of
Lake Michigan and was not automated until 1983. Because of its bright color scheme and its scenic location
at the very edge of the water, it is said to be the second most-photographed lighthouse in the U.S. and is a
favorite place for watching sunsets. This lighthouse is open for tours.
Robert Manning Memorial Lighthouse At the city beach on Lake Michigan, Empire, MI 49630
Robert H. Manning was a life-long resident of Empire who spent as much time as possible fishing on Lake
Michigan. He wanted to see a lighthouse built at Empire for returning fishermen. After his death in 1989,
the Manning family and friends raised money to build this tiny lighthouse on the beach.
South Manitou Island Light On South Manitou Island, Leland, MI 49654
One of the most scenic lighthouses in the country, the light station on South Manitou Island was established
in 1839 to mark the location of the only natural harbor between northern Michigan and Chicago. Ships took
refuge here during storms and steamers stopped to take on wood for their boilers. It is 100-foot tall and dates
to 1871. Decommissioned in 1958, the lighthouse is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
and is open for regular guided tours during the summer. The island is accessible by ferry service from Leland.
Great Lakes Maritime Academy, 715 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: (231) 995-1200
A part of Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, the Academy trains men and women for careers as
Merchant Marine officers aboard Great Lakes vessels and oceangoing ships. It is one of nation's 7 maritime
academies affiliated with a community college. Housed in the college's new Great Lakes Campus, the
Academy includes a working marina and several boats, including the 225-foot training vessel State of
Michigan. Its extensive historical and maritime exhibits are open to the public and visitors are welcome
Monday through Friday.
Inland Seas Education Association 101 Dame, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Phone: (231) 271-3077
Since 1989, the Inland Seas Education Association has operated "floating classroom" programs where people of
all ages can learn about the ecology of the Great Lakes by spending a half-day sailing and studying science on
Grand Traverse Bay. From June until August.
Maritime Heritage Alliance 13272 SW Bayshore Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684, Phone: (213) 946-2647
The Maritime Heritage Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting and
promoting an appreciation of the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes. Dockside tours of our ships are
available in ports of call around the Great Lakes.
Shipwrecks Traverse City, MI 49684
Over the centuries ships sank in the waters around Traverse City. Only a few dozen of these wrecks have
been located. Many are in the deep waters of the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve and can only be
reached by boat and scuba equipment. A few of these hulks are in shallow water and can easily be reached
from shore by snorkelers. The 160-foot steamer "Three Brothers" and the 246-foot freighter "Francisco
Morazon," are both located off South Manitou Island, while the "Rising Sun" lies off Pyramid Point south of
Leland. The remains of the 124-foot schooner "Metropolis" can be found just north of Old Mission Harbor.
Once of the few reasons scuba diving has become so popular in this area.
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