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Grand Haven Lighthouse photo courtesy of Dirk Wierenga

National Lighthouse Day with Pure Michigan

By Mary Ellen Murphy Aug 7, 2025 | 10:18 AM

Grand Haven, MI (WGHN) – National Lighthouse Day is a BIG deal in Michigan because we have the most lighthouses of any state in the country. Nick Nerbonne from Pure Michigan is here to tell us all about it.

  • It’s an annual celebration of lighthouses and the commitment and service of those who tended America’s lights for generations.
  • More than 120 lighthouses stand watch along our waterways, which includes 3,288 miles of Great Lakes coastline.

Michigan Lighthouse Fun Facts

  • Oldest lighthouse: Fort Gratiot light in Port Huron – first lit in 1829
  • Tallest lighthouse: shared between Rock of Ages Lighthouse near Isle Royale and White Shoal Lighthouse near Cross Village in Lake Michigan – both more than 120 feet tall
  • Most remote lighthouse – Stannard Rock off the Keweenaw Peninsula

Bonus trivia – why are some lighthouses painted red? Let’s find out!

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