Cheboygan Crib Light

Cheboygan Crib Light is an octagonal iron tower standing 7.5 meters tall with a white exterior and red lantern room at the mouth of Cheboygan River. The structure rests on a timber crib foundation designed to guide vessels through the channel into the river.

Built in 1884 on a timber crib structure, this light guided ships through the dredged channel into Cheboygan River for over a century. The tower was relocated in 1984, marking the end of its operational presence at the original site.

Local residents called this tower 'The Dummy' after it became automated in 1929 and no longer needed a keeper to operate it daily. The nickname reflected how people understood the shift from staffed to remote operation in their waterfront community.

The light stands at the end of Water Street in Gordon Turner Park, located north of U.S. Highway 23 in downtown Cheboygan. You can view and photograph the entire structure from the park grounds easily.

The tower was equipped with a fourth-order Fresnel lens that produced a distinctive red flash every four seconds visible across Lake Huron. This optical system allowed mariners to identify the light even from considerable distances on the water.

Location: Cheboygan

Inception: 1884

Height: 7.5 m

GPS coordinates: 45.65680,-84.46500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:04