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Managing Organization:
Big Sable Lighthouse Keepers Association
Telephone: 231-845-7343
Website: http://www.bigsablelighthouse.org
Contact Address Information:
P.O. Box 673
Ludington
Michigan, 49431, United States
Notes:
This lighthouse was originally a brick tower; it was encased in steel plates in 1900. The lighthouse station was leased to the Foundation for Behavioral Research in 1986. The foundation has worked with the Big Sable Lighthouse Association to preserve the buildings.
Tower Height: 112
Height of Focal Plane: 106
Description of Tower: Conical cast iron tower; white with middle third black.
This light is operational
Date Established: 1867
Date Present Tower Built: 1867
Date Automated: 1968
Optics: 1867: Third order Fresnel lens (now at Rose Hawley Museum at White Pine Village);
Current Use: Active aid to navigation.
Open To Public? Yes.
Museum?
The lighthouse is open every day from May 1 through October 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a gift shop in the lighthouse. Visitors can climb the tower for a small donation. On the following dates in 2005, transportation is provided from the state park: June 18, July 23, and September 17. Buses depart from the visitors center at Ludington State Park.
Directions:
The lighthouse is within Ludington State Park. Follow US Route 10 west to M-116; turn right (north) on M-116 and follow to the park. Continue to the entrance for the Lighthouse Trail. It is a hike of about 1 1/2 miles to the lighthouse.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Keepers: Alonzo Hyde Sr. (1867-1869), Alonzo Hyde (1869-1871), Newton Bird (1871-1873), Burr Caswell (1874-1882), Hans Hansen (1882-1887), James Rich (1887-1888), Thomas Bailey (1889-1893), George Blake (1899-1905), Samuel Gagnon (1905-1922), Joseph Kimmes (1922-1923), Lewellyn Vanatter (1923-1936), George Rogan (1936-1949), David Sauers (1949-1954), Henry Vavrina (1955-1965), Homer Meverden (1965-1968)
Nearby Lodging: Camping is available in Ludington State Park. For information call (231) 843-8671. Also, teams of six volunteers or more live at the lighthouse for two-week stretches -- contact the Big Sable Lighthouse Keepers Association for information.
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