Point Iroquois Light

In 1620, French explorers Étienne Brûlé and Grenoble became the first recorded white men to the area. "From that time, Point Iroquois became a familiar landmark" for French explorers, fur traders and missionaries who followed. Sault Ste. Marie was the first white settlement in what became known as Michigan.

In 1853 Congress, which had approved the construction of the first Soo Locks on the St. Mary's River, appropriated $5,000 for the construction of what would be the first lighthouse at Point Iroquois.{{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/superior/iroquois/iroquois.htm|title=Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Point Iroquois Light.}} In 1855-1856 the United States Lighthouse Board implemented this appropriation and built a wood and rubble stone lighthouse at the Point; this aid to navigation commenced operations on June 18, 1856.[http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Point%20Iroquois%20Lighthouse Lighthouse Central, Point Iroquos Lighthouse, The Ultimate Guide to Upper Michigan Lighthouses by Jerry Roach. (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - 2007)]. {{ISBN|978-0-9747977-2-4}}. The first Point Iroquois light was a {{convert|45|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} rubble stone tower with a wooden lantern deck, outfitted with a flashing white fourth order Fresnel lens. Being built on the Point's highest ground, this first light had a {{convert|63|ft|adj=on}} focal plane, and a range of visibility of {{convert|10|nmi}}. A dwelling for a full-time lightkeeper was included as part of the complex. The St. Martin Reef Light is a twin of this first light station.{{cite rowlett|miup}}

However, as early as 1867, only eleven years after the first light went into operation, a government inspector was questioning the construction quality of the first light station and preparing the ground for its replacement. Furthermore, following the American Civil War, the United States Lighthouse Board had entered a lighthouse (and life saving station) building boom on the Great Lakes.See the chronology at {{cite web|url=http://clarke.cmich.edu/lighthouses/ |author= Wagner, John L. |title=Beacons Shining in the Night: The Lighthouses of Michigan | publisher=Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University}}

In 1870, after the first lighthouse and keepers' quarters building were torn down. the second and current Point Iroquois Light was constructed, this time at an estimated cost of $18,000. The present Cape Cod style white brick lighthouse was built and ran continuously for 93 years, guiding ships in and out of the Soo Locks. It has a {{convert|65|ft|adj=on}} tower height, and a focal plane that is variously reported as {{convert|68|or|72|ft|m}}. The new Light and keepers' quarters became visual focuses of the shoreline lumber community of Brimley, Michigan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.baymillsbrimleyhistory.org/contact.html |title=Bay Mills/Brimley Historical Research Society (Lots of photographs of the lighthouse). |access-date=2008-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509164641/http://www.baymillsbrimleyhistory.org/contact.html |archive-date=2008-05-09 |url-status=dead }}

In 1885, a bell tower was erected, which incorporated a Stevens automatic bell striking machine.{{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/closeups/fogsignal/stevens/stevens.htm|title=Stevens Automatic Bell Striker, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.}} In 1890, the bell tower was torn down, and a fog signal building was built with steam whistles installed. In 1926 they were replaced by Type F diaphone fog horns.

In 1905, a two-floor extension was added to the 1871 building, providing living space for another assistant keeper, bringing the staff to three Lighthouse keepers. At peak operation, the station was manned by a Head Keeper and two Assistant Keepers. The children of the keepers and local fisherman were enough to populate a local school on the grounds for a period.Bacon, Betty Byrnes, (1989) Lighthouse Memories: Growing Up at Point Iroquois in the 1920s (Bay Mills, Michigan: Bay Mills-Brimley Historical Research Society).[http://www.exploringthenorth.com/ptiroquois/iroquois.html Exploring the North, Point Iroquois Lighthouse.] Other buildings on the site included: an assistant keeper's quarters, fog signal building (now gone), three barns, a chicken house, boat house, oil house, outhouse and well house.{{cite web|url=http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Superior/Pt-Iroquois.htm|title=Wobser, David and Colt Edin, Point Iroquois Light|work=Boatnerd.com|access-date=2008-05-17|archive-date=2008-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725035333/http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Superior/Pt-Iroquois.htm|url-status=dead}}

The station was deactivated in 1962, replaced by the Canadian operated Gros Cap Reefs Light, an unmanned buoy-type beacon in the St. Marys River channel.[http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses], Detroit News.[http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/LH_list/point_iroquois.htm Michigan Lighthouse Fund, Point Iroquois Lighthouse.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106204507/http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/LH_list/point_iroquois.htm |date=2009-01-06 }}

In 1993 the light quarters and light were completely renovated.{{Cite web |url=http://www.lighthousedepot.com/Point%20Iroquois%20MI/p/42270/ |title=Lighthouse Depot, Point Iroquois Lighithouse. |access-date=2009-12-31 |archive-date=2011-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614090938/http://www.lighthousedepot.com/Point%20Iroquois%20MI/p/42270/ |url-status=dead }}

In 1975 the Point Iroquois Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Reference #75000940. It is also on the state list.{{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/martin_reef/|title=Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Martin Reef Light.}}

File:View from tower of Point Iroquois Light (2018).jpg

It is considered to be iconic, and has been the subject of memorabilia.Rubber Stamp, [http://northwoodsmemories.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=34&zenid=5a2bf6a1609b1e8d758d304c84089bac Point Iroquois Light.]

The land and lighthouse are now part of the Hiawatha National Forest and the light is a Marine Museum. Restoration efforts are being conducted under the auspices of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110627095404/http://www.baymillsbrimleyhistory.org/index.html Bay Mills/Brimley Historical Research Society], to whom the site is leased.

In 1963, the original lens was sent to the Smithsonian Institution. A fourth order Fresnel lens taken from Martin Reef Light is on display in the Lighthouse keeper's house.

The museum has one apartment furnished to give an idea of the lightkeepers' everyday lives. Other rooms show lighthouse technology, history of navigational aids, and historical photos. This light station housed three families. The double residence houses volunteers who work on the lighthouse restoration and give tours of the museum, gift shop and tower.

• The tower and museum are open to the public from Memorial Day through October 15. Operations are seven days per week. Everyday from 10:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., seven days a week. Open weekends, Friday through Sunday, they reopen from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• 25px M-221 into Brimley, Michigan then turn left onto 6 Mile Rd which leads to the lighthouse about {{convert|7.5|mi|km}} down the road.[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=566 Anderson, Kraig, Lighthouse friends, Point Iroquois Lighthouse.]

• Comet (steamboat)
• Lighthouses in the United States
• Great Lakes Storm of 1913 and Shipwrecks of the 1913 Great Lakes storm

• Bacon, Betty Byrnes, (1989) Lighthouse Memories: Growing Up at Point Iroquois in the 1920s (Bay Mills, Michigan: Bay Mills-Brimley Historical Research Society).
• {{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/superior/iroquois/iroquois.htm|title=Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Point Iroquois Light.}}

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• [http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!?ss=110910&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=110355000000000&pnavid=110000000000000&recid=13342&actid=119&ttype=recarea&pname=Hiawatha%2520National%2520Forest%2520-%2520Point%2520Iroquois%2520Light%2520Station Point Iroquois Light Station] - U.S. Forest Service
• [http://marinas.com/view/lighthouse/754 Aerial photos, Point Iroquois Light, marinas.com.]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316181458/http://www.lighthousesrus.org/Maps/GL/SuperiorEast.htm Interactive map of lighthouses in eastern Lake Superior.]

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Category:Lighthouses completed in 1856

Category:Lighthouses completed in 1870

Category:Houses completed in 1870

Category:Museums in Chippewa County, Michigan

Category:Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan

Category:Michigan State Historic Sites

Category:Lighthouse museums in Michigan

Category:Hiawatha National Forest

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Chippewa County, Michigan

Category:1856 establishments in Michigan

Category:Lighthouses in Chippewa County, Michigan