Rock Harbor Light

Rock Harbor Light is a brick and stone lighthouse with a black lantern tower located on Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The structure occupies a prominent position overlooking the harbor, which served as a natural refuge for ships during storms.

This lighthouse was built in 1855 to guide the growing number of ships trading on the Great Lakes during the copper mining boom. It was decommissioned in 1879 as maritime technology improved and shipping routes became safer.

The lighthouse reveals how ships once navigated these dangerous waters and what life was like for the keepers who tended it. Today it stands as a reminder of the human effort required to guide vessels safely through Lake Superior.

The lighthouse is accessible only by ferry to the island, and it is best visited during the summer months when weather is more stable. Wear sturdy footwear and bring layers, as conditions on the lake can change rapidly throughout the day.

The bricks used to build this lighthouse came from local kilns in the Keweenaw region during the height of copper mining activity. This choice of materials ties the structure directly to the economic forces that shaped the entire region at that time.