Point Betsie Light, Historic lighthouse in Benzie County, Michigan.
Point Betsie Light is a brick lighthouse standing 11 meters tall on the shore of Lake Michigan. The tower connects to the keeper's dwelling and features distinctive architectural details from its original construction period.
Construction of this lighthouse began in 1858 to help guide vessels through shipping routes on the Great Lakes. The structure played a crucial role in maritime navigation for over a century before changes in technology altered its function.
This structure embodies the maritime heritage of Michigan's Great Lakes region and how communities depended on lighthouses for safe passage. Visitors come to understand the relationship between the shore and shipping routes that shaped the area's history.
You can look at the original lens equipment and tour the keeper's house to understand daily life at the station. Educational programs help explain how lighthouses guided ships and what it took to operate one.
This lighthouse was the last one on Lake Michigan to have a person living there working full-time before automation took over. It marks an important transition point in how lighthouses changed from human-operated to fully automatic systems.
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