Preservation activities will continue at an Upper Peninsula lighthouse with the help of a $60,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office under the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
The Keepers Quarters at Whitefish Point Light Station in Chippewa County will be preserved through the work of the Great Lakes Shiprewck Historical Society.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society will hire a contractor to complete repairs and partial replacement of the metal shingle roof at the keepers quarters at the Whitefish Point Light Station, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the centerpiece of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. The keepers quarters are connected via an aerial walkway to the light tower itself, historically allowing the lightkeeper and their assistant to access the lantern room regardless of weather.
“The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society is very pleased to have financial support from the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program for essential repair of the lightkeepers’ quarters roof,” said Sean Ley, development officer for the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. “The lightkeepers quarters is an original building of the Whitefish Point Light Station, completed in 1861. The property remains open for tours during the summer season, supporting the goal of educating the public of the essential importance of historic preservation in Michigan.”
Funding for MLAP grants comes from the sale of specialty Save Our Lights vehicle license plates available from the Michigan Secretary of State and through direct donations to the program. To date, the Michigan SHPO has awarded more than $3 million in matching funds to help rehabilitate and preserve dozens of lighthouses for tourists and residents alike to explore and appreciate. To learn more about lighthouse preservation in Michigan, order your plate, or donate directly to the fund, visit http://www.michigan.gov/saveourlights.
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