Waugoshance Light

Waugoshance Light is a lighthouse in Lake Michigan located at the northern end of the lake and built as a cone-shaped steel tower. The tower was fitted with a Fresnel lens and served as a navigation marker for ships passing through the Strait of Mackinac.

The lighthouse was built in 1851 and replaced an earlier light vessel on the Great Lakes. Operations ended in 1912, but the structure was repurposed afterward and remained part of regional transportation history.

This lighthouse represents an important landmark to Great Lakes mariners and shows how people adapted to dangerous shipping conditions. The structure tells a story of early engineering solutions that kept vessels safe through treacherous waters.

The lighthouse sits on a shoal in open water and is not easily reached from shore. Visitors should check water conditions before planning a visit and understand that access to the site is limited.

During World War II, the abandoned lighthouse was used by the U.S. Navy as a target for bombing practice. This unusual repurposing shows how forgotten structures found new roles during wartime.

Location: Emmet County

Inception: 1850

Height: 19 m

GPS coordinates: 45.78733,-85.09169

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:57