Presque Isle Township Museum Society

Presque Isle Township Museum Society We tell the story of the 1840 and 1870 lighthouses, Presque Isle Township's rich maritime history, a

We had such a blast yesterday at the Thunder Bay Maritime Festival! It was wonderful partnering up with our friends from...
08/23/2026

We had such a blast yesterday at the Thunder Bay Maritime Festival!

It was wonderful partnering up with our friends from Sturgeon Point Light Station and 40-Mile Point Light Station to share our love for Great Lakes history.

The highlight of the day? Our awesome junior lighthouse lovers! Incredibly creative kids built and decorated 43 customized lighthouses to take home. Check out these two master builders showing off their amazing creations!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat, learn, and create with us!

Meet our new Lighthouse Keeper! Sully takes his guard duties very seriously—as long as he can peer through those fluffy ...
08/21/2026

Meet our new Lighthouse Keeper!

Sully takes his guard duties very seriously—as long as he can peer through those fluffy bangs! He loves being out on the water with Bev and Dave Wolf making sure the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse stays safe and sound.

Thanks Bev and Dave for the adorable picture!
https://www.bbwolffineartphotography.com/

PI Lighthouses Photo Contest FAQQ: Does my photo have to be taken this year?A: Nope! Any photo you've ever taken of the ...
08/15/2026

PI Lighthouses Photo Contest FAQ
Q: Does my photo have to be taken this year?
A: Nope! Any photo you've ever taken of the Presque Isle Lighthouses is eligible.

Got a fresh snap from a recent visit? Perfect. Dusting off a favorite shot from a decade ago? Send it in! In fact, the oldest entry we’ve ever received was this photo taken way back in June 1946 by Charles L. Heinzel of Rogers City, MI.

So, dig through those photo archives, find your favorite memories, and send them our way! ⏰ Deadline for entries: September 7, 2026

Information and rules: www.presqueislelighthouses.org

It was a beautiful day at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse!The Old Light’s tower — 30 feet tall and 18 feet in diameter a...
08/15/2026

It was a beautiful day at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse!

The Old Light’s tower — 30 feet tall and 18 feet in diameter at the base — consists of a conical section (the bottom two-thirds) made of stone, with a round brick section above. The deck is made of soapstone with leaded mortar. On September 4, 1840, John Scott certified that construction of the lighthouse had been completed according to the $5000 contract.

The Old Lighthouse Park is an ideal spot to enjoy a picnic, read a good book, or watch freighters making their way up- or down-lake.

Photo: Mary Tagliareni

Join us in celebrating John and Harriet Poch! During our Annual Meeting this past Monday, we presented them with a Lifet...
08/09/2026

Join us in celebrating John and Harriet Poch! During our Annual Meeting this past Monday, we presented them with a Lifetime Membership to the Museum Society to express our heartfelt gratitude in recognition of their outstanding dedication to our community and organization. Through their selfless service, they have kept the rich maritime history of Presque Isle alive for generations to come.

Happy National Lighthouse Day!! In Presque Isle, MI we are lucky to host a historic trio of maritime history. 🔴 The Old ...
08/08/2026

Happy National Lighthouse Day!! In Presque Isle, MI we are lucky to host a historic trio of maritime history.

🔴 The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse (1840): One of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes. With its short, sturdy 30-foot white brick tower and stone staircase, stepping inside feels like walking straight back into the 19th century.

⚪ The New Presque Isle Lighthouse (1870): Standing tall at 113 feet, for over 150 years, its beacon has stood strong against Great Lakes storms, offering breathtaking panoramic lake views from the top.

🟡 Presque Isle Harbor Range Lights (1870): The unsung heroes of harbor navigation! By aligning the front and rear lights, mariners can safely navigate the narrow channel into Presque Isle Harbor without running aground.

Congratulations to three Sunrise Side Lighthouses turning 150 years old this year! 🎈✨ Want to step back in time, climb a...
07/25/2026

Congratulations to three Sunrise Side Lighthouses turning 150 years old this year! 🎈✨ Want to step back in time, climb a tower, or catch a live concert? Check out the details below and in the attached photos (click on the photos to see full screen)!

1️⃣ Sturgeon Point Lifesaving Station
When: Saturday, August 1st | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Sturgeon Point State Park (6071 E. Point Rd., Harrisville)
What to Expect: Lighthouse climbs, live music, rock painting, and family fun!

2️⃣ Thunder Bay Island Light Station
When: Thursday, August 6th | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Where: NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, Alpena
What to Expect: A special presentation by Stephen D. Tongue, author of “Lanterns & Lifeboats – A History of Thunder Bay Island.”

3️⃣ Tawas Point Lighthouse
Where: Tawas Point State Park (Recreation Passport required for vehicle entry.)
What to Expect:
Friday, August 7th (12:00 PM – 5:00 PM): FREE lighthouse tours, games, crafts, snacks, and storybook activities!
Saturday, August 8th (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM): FREE live concert featuring Lee Murdock!

Mark your calendars, bring the family, and celebrate a century and a half of maritime history!

Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park
Alcona Historical Society
Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Preservation Society

Whew! At least for now, the smoke has cleared and it is a beautiful day to visit the lighthouses! ☀️Check out this stunn...
07/19/2026

Whew! At least for now, the smoke has cleared and it is a beautiful day to visit the lighthouses! ☀️

Check out this stunning shot! Back in July 2020, Gunnar Rochon captured this gorgeous view—"Old Presque Isle - Perched Among The Pines"—and entered it into our Annual Photo Contest. Our amazing Facebook community fell in love with it, and your votes earned him the People’s Choice Award!

Have you entered your favorite Presque Isle Lighthouse photo in our contest yet? We want to see your best shots! 👇

🌐 Get all the details and enter here: https://www.presqueislelighthouses.org

We ❤ our maritime history! If you take a close look at the 1894 chart of Presque Isle (2nd image), you’ll see the 1870 N...
07/18/2026

We ❤ our maritime history! If you take a close look at the 1894 chart of Presque Isle (2nd image), you’ll see the 1870 New Lighthouse labeled as “Presqu'Ile Light & Fog Whistle.” Fast forward to the 1905 chart (3rd image), a new acronym has been added: “STO SIG STA”—short for Storm Signal Station.

Before modern tech, these stations were crucial lifelines, using visual cues like flags, shapes, and lights to warn passing ships of incoming gales and dangerous weather.

In the undated photo of the 1870 Light, you can see a weather flag flying from the top of the Coastal Warning Display (CWD) tower to the right—signaling local rain. Katherine (Kate) Garrity was employed by the government for $10 a month to track the daily weather and hoist the signal flags.

A Quick History of CWD Towers:
• 1898: President McKinley orders the system’s implementation, leading to dozens of towers built along the oceans and the Great Lakes.
• 1989: The National Weather Service officially deactivates the network as radio and satellite tech make the physical flags obsolete.
• 2007: The U.S. Coast Guard formally brings the CWD program back at select small boat stations.

https://www.presqueislelighthouses.org/lighthouses/historical-nautical-charts

This Saturday (July 18), we will be cleaning East Grand Lake Road from County Road 638 to the New Lighthouse. If you'd l...
07/13/2026

This Saturday (July 18), we will be cleaning East Grand Lake Road from County Road 638 to the New Lighthouse. If you'd like to join us, meet in the DNR Presque Isle Harbor Parking Lot (across from the Portage Store) at 10:00 am.

The walkers who traverse this stretch of road on a regular basis do a fantastic job of cleaning it, but we still find debris. It's a great opportunity to meet someone new while enjoying a morning walk and cleaning up our beautiful community.

Address

4500 E Grand Lake Road
Presque Isle, MI
49777

Telephone

(989) 787-0814

Website

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