Fort Gratiot Light, Lighthouse on Lake Huron in Port Huron, Michigan
Fort Gratiot Light is a 26-meter-tall white tower marking where Lake Huron meets the St. Clair River in Port Huron. The structure sits on grounds that once housed a military fort and serves as a navigational marker for vessels entering this key shipping passage.
Congress authorized Michigan's first lighthouse in 1825 to guide ships after the Erie Canal opened and increased traffic through the Great Lakes. The tower underwent major upgrades in 1862 when it was made taller and equipped with improved optics.
The light tower marks where inland waterways became central to regional commerce and shaped how people moved goods across the Great Lakes. Walking around the site, you notice how the beacon's presence still connects the town to its role as a shipping gateway.
The lighthouse remains an active Coast Guard facility, though visitors can still tour it through the St. Clair County Parks department. Clear weather works best for your visit so you can take in views of the lake and river from the location.
The lens system was upgraded in 1862 to a more powerful version that increased the light's reach across the water. This improvement allowed ships to spot the beacon from greater distances when navigating the busy passage at night.
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