Muskegon Breakwater Light

Muskegon Breakwater Light is a red steel lighthouse standing 16 meters tall at the end of the south breakwater with a square pyramidal tower structure. It marks the harbor entrance and stands on a long pier that extends from the shoreline.

The current structure was completed in 1930 and replaced earlier lighthouses from 1851 and 1871. The succession of these buildings shows how harbor technology and navigation methods evolved over nearly a century.

This structure represents Muskegon's connection to Lake Michigan and its identity as a working harbor town. The lighthouse remains a symbol of the community's maritime past and its relationship with water-based commerce.

Access to the lighthouse is on foot via a long pier at Pere Marquette Park, which makes for a pleasant waterfront walk. Guided tours are available during summer months for those interested in seeing the interior.

The lantern room inside the lighthouse is 33 years older than the tower itself, salvaged from an earlier installation. This recycling of equipment shows how lighthouse keepers made use of existing materials rather than discarding them.

Location: Muskegon

Inception: 1930

Height: 16 m

Operator: U.S. Coast Guard

GPS coordinates: 43.22411,-86.34696

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:08