Crisp Point Light

Crisp Point It was built in 1875 and became operational in 1876 , was one of five U.S. Life-Saving Service Stations that saved lives in the United States.  Along the coast of Lake Superior, between Munising and Whitefish Point, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Located approximately 14 miles (23 km) west of Whitefish Point,(  at the eastern end of Lake Superior on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.)  in 1876 it became Life Saving Station number ten. Crisp Point is named after one of the people in charge of the Station of Salvation of Life, Christopher Crisp, who is said to have been “a man of boats with iron will”
The stretch of coastline between Whitefish Point and Grand Island became known as “The Coast of Shipwreck”. On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank during a violent storm. It sank in Lake Superior about 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Crisp Point. Fitzgerald’s last radio communication was with the Coast Guard station in Grand Marais.

Access : Coordinates: 46.752883, -85.257333 / Location : 1944 County Road 412, Newberry, MI 49868 / Crisp Point is  37 miles north of Newberry, 14.5 miles west of Whitefish Point or 26 miles from Tahquamenon Falls State Park. It takes approx. 45 minutes to drive from the falls to Crisp Point on a sunny  day. The drive turns off of highway M-123 at CR 500 before veering right and going 11.6 miles on Luce County Road 412 before another 6.5-mile ride through the Lake Superior State Forest that ends at the lighthouse.

Tip : Visiting Crisp Point Lighthouse during the winter with a vehicle should not be attempted , Beware of road though! Better have 4WD

facilities : visitor center next to the parking lot. The visitor center contains bathrooms, a very small store and a small museum ( closed during the winter )

operational timeline : from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October – opening hours : 10:00 am – 6:00 pm / Admissions : None

LightHouse Specifications :Year first lit 1904 , Construction brick, Tower shape conical, Tower height 58 feet (18 m) , Focal height 62 feet (19 m) , Range 13 nautical miles  24 kilometres.

Activities : sightseeing : photo opportunities / outdoor activities / watch the waves on Lake Superior / picnic / Birdwatching / exploring forest roads / enjoy Stunning views

Events : Annual Crisp Point Lighthouse Conference & Picnic , July 20 , 10:00 am , at Whitefish Township Community Center Paradise / Paradise Wild Blueberry Festival , August 16-18 /
Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service , November / Traveling Michigan Lighthouse Festival , August 2-4 / Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival , July 26 – August 4 /
Family Camp and Work Weekend , May 24-27 / Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Spring Fling , April /

Go next : Paradise and Whitefish Bay / Lake Superior Shoreline at Whitefish Point / Tahquamenon Falls / Newberry ( Michigan)