Forty Years Ago This Historic Michigan Lighthouse Was Set Ablaze

Lighthouses are the silent guardians of the lakeshore, calling the sailors home since 280 BC when the first lighthouse was made in Egypt. Since then, lighthouses have gone from lighthouse keepers lighting large fires to lighthouses becoming mainly automated and using lightbulbs.

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the US, with over 120 lighthouses spread around the Great Lakes. However, one of Ontonagon's three lighthouses is celebrating an unfortunate anniversary, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel for this former beacon.

Fourteen Mile Point Light Station

Located 14 miles away from Ontonagon, the Fourteen Mile Point Light Station (see where the name comes from?) used to lead sailors along the coast of Lake Superior. The very remote structure was built in 1895 and manned by lightkeepers until it was automated in 1934 and decommissioned in 1945. The lighthouse sat abandoned until a fateful night in 1984.

Fourteen Mile Point Burns

On July 30th, 1984 a fire was left unattended and resulted in the lighthouse setting on fire, leaving nothing but the brick and metal structures. The remoteness of the structure, reachable only by a grueling 12-mile hike or by boat, made the lighthouse an appealing place for visitors to traverse. The building's integrity was completely compromised and has sat in this condition for forty years, slowly continuing to fall apart ever since.

New Owners, New Chapter

The lighthouse is located on private property and has new honors that are ready to take the reigns and turn this former glory back to its former self. The property was put up for sale in 2018 and the new owners are allegedly planning to renovate the area to repair the lighthouse.