Coast Guard Station Belle Isle

Coast Guard Station Belle Isle is a Coast Guard facility on Belle Isle Park in Detroit that monitors ship traffic on the Detroit River. The station conducts rescue and safety operations throughout the surrounding waters and serves the region from its location near the river mouth.

The station was established in 1881 after Detroit gave the land to the federal government for one dollar, and the first lighthouse began operating in 1882. Since then the facility has supported shipping and commerce in this strategically important part of the country.

The station plays a role in protecting Great Lakes shipping and demonstrates to visitors why safe navigation matters in this region. Staff members share knowledge about how mariners navigate these waters safely and protect the environment.

Access to the area is through the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle Park where the station is located. Visitors should know this is an active federal facility and public access is limited to certain areas of the park.

In its early years the site was surrounded entirely by wetlands, making boats the only way to reach the station. This isolated setting shaped how the facility operated and made it a pioneer in establishing Coast Guard presence on the Great Lakes.