Inventory of Historic Light Stations--Indiana Lighthouses--Michigan City Lights

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
Indiana Lighthouses

Back to Inventory - Home Page
Back to Inventory - List of Indiana Lighthouses

MICHIGAN CITY LIGHTS

State: INDIANA
Location: LAKE MICHIGAN
Nearest City: MICHIGAN CITY
County: LA PORTE
U.S.C.G. District: 9
Year Station Established: 1837

Michigan City Lights

Left: 1858 tower in 1977, U.S. Coast Guard photo; right: 1904 tower in 1979, HABS/HAER photo by Charles Hyde

First Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1858
Is the Light Operational? NO
Date Deactivated: 1904
Automated:
Foundation Materials: NATURAL/EMPLACED
Construction Materials: WOOD
Markings/Patterns: WHITE TOWER ON BRICK DWELLING
Shape: SQUARE (REPLICA)
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 34
Original Optic: FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1858
Present Optic: REMOVED TO PIERHEAD LIGHT
Year Present Lens Installed: 1904
Height of Focal Plane: 52
Has tower been moved? NO

Second Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1904
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1960
Foundation Materials: CONCRETE PIER
Construction Materials: STEEL/BRICK
Markings/Patterns: WHITE TOWER W/BLACK LANTERN
Shape: OCTAGONAL ON FOG SIGNAL BLDG
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height: 49
Original Optic: FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1904
Present Optic: ROTATING 2130C
Year Present Lens Installed:
Height of Focal Plane:
Has tower been moved? NO

Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL LENS ON DISPLAY IN MUSEUM

Previous Tower(s):

1. Construction Date:
Description:
Fate/Disposition:

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? YES

Year Constructed: 1904
Construction Materials: STEEL
Architectural Style: INTEGRAL TO TOWER
Fog Signal Type: REMOVED

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1858
Number of Stories: 3
Architectural Style: INTEGRAL
Construction Materials: BRICK/WOOD

Other Structures: OIL HOUSE, STORAGE BUILDING, ELEVATED CATWALK, RADIOBEACON

Current Use: MUSEUM (OLD TOWER)/ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION (PIER LIGHT)

Owner/Manager: MICHIGAN CITY LEASE TO MICHIGAN CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (OLD TOWER)/U.S. COAST GUARD (PIER LIGHT)

Open to the Public? YES (Go to Lighthouses to Visit for access information)

Web Site:

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #74000023
Name of Listing: MICHIGAN CITY LIGHTHOUSE/MICHIGAN CITY EAST PIERHEAD (88000069)
On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1974

HABS/HAER Documentation? YES, IN-99

Miscellaneous:
OLD TOWER REPLACED IN 1904 BY NEW LIGHTHOUSE AND FOG SIGNAL LOCATED AT END OF EAST PIER; FORMER LIGHTHOUSE SERVED AS KEEPERS QUARTERS; TOWER AND LANTERN REPLICATED AND PLACED ON DWELLING IN 1973

Last Modified: Tues, Feb 26 2002 11:33:02 am EDT
JMP

Privacy & Disclaimer