Tawas Point Light Station - East Tawas, MI
Posted by: 
S5280ft
N 44° 15.222 W 083° 26.968
17T E 304453 N 4902969
A real beauty of a lighthouse, located on the north end of Saginaw Bay (on the index finger of the Michigan mitten). Located within Tawas Point State Park, at the south end of Point Road. Yeah, there's parking too, and a wonderful beach.
Waymark Code: WM1M49
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 05/29/2007
Views: 48
An interesting fact. Because the local wind and currents continue to move tip of Tawas Point southward, this light was built at what was the southern end of the point in 1876, replacing a 23 year old light that was too far up the peninsula to properly aid navigation. 125+ years later, Tawas Point has moved more than 3/4 miles away.
From the State of Michigan Historic Preservation Office website:
Narrative Description:
The Tawas Point Light Station consists of a light tower and attached, two-story keeper's dwelling, a second, two-story, unattached keeper's dwelling, and several small sheds. The tower is constructed of white-painted brick and has an interior staircase. The light is covered by a ten-sided housing. A walk-way supported by brackets with a metal railing runs around the top of the tower. The attached keeper's dwelling is a gable-roofed structure also constructed of white-painted brick with segmental-arched windows. The unattached dwelling is gable roofed with hipped-roof dormers in the second story. Small, shed-roofed additions project off the front and rear of the building.
Statement of Significance:
Built in 1876, the Tawas Point Light House replaced an earlier light station constructed in 1853. The station has served as a navigational marker for Lake Huron vessels entering and leaving Saginaw Bay. As of the late 1970s, the light continued to be active on an automated system.
Street address:
Tawas Point Road
East Tawas, MI U.S.A.
48730
County / Borough / Parish: Iosco County
Year listed: 1984
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1875-1899
Historic function: Defense, Transportation
Current function: Defense, Transportation
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.