Passage Island Light

Passage Island Light Station

Undated USCG photo of the station
Location	SW end of Passage Is., 3.25 mi NE of Isle Royale, in NW Lake Superior, Houghton Township, Michigan
Coordinates	48°13′27″N 88°21′57″W
Tower
Constructed	1882
Construction	fieldstone[2]
Automated	1978[2]
Height	44 feet (13 m)[2]
Markings	natural with white & red lantern[2]
Heritage	National Register of Historic Places listed place
Light
First lit	1882[1]
Lens	Fourth order Fresnel lens[1] (original), 7.5-inch (190 mm) (current)
Passage Island Light Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Architect	U.S. Lighthouse Board
Architectural style	Gothic
MPS	Light Stations of the United States MPS
NRHP reference No.	06000632[3]
Added to NRHP	July 19, 2006

The Passage Island Light Station is a lighthouse located 3.25 mi (5.23 km) NE of Isle Royale, in NW Lake Superior, Michigan on Passage Island. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.^[3]

Description

Passage Island Lighthouse (far right) is located on a small island, off the east coast of Isle Royale (right-click image to enlarge).

The light tower is 44 feet (13 m) high, constructed of field stone, and is square on the first level, transitioning to octagonal above.^[4] It is topped with a ten-sided cast iron lantern, accessible via a spiral staircase within the tower.^[4] The tower is integral with the keeper's house, which is a two-story field stone house measuring 26 by 30 feet (7.9 by 9.1 m).^[4]

History

The need for a lighthouse between Passage Island and Isle Royale was recognized as early as the 1860s, as lake traffic increased dramatically due to the upsurge in mining in the Upper Peninsula.^[4] However, it took until 1875 before Congress authorized funds for the construction of a lighthouse.^[4] However, because of Congress's desire to bring political pressure to bear on the Canadian government to force them to build a lighthouse in Lake Erie, the appropriated $18,000 for Pasage Light was not released until 1880.^[4] Construction began in 1881, and the light was completed the following year.^[4] A fog signal was added in 1884, and in 1894 a new flashing white lens manufactured by Barbier, Benard & Turenne of Paris was installed.^[4]

In 1978, the station was automated, and in 1989 a 7.5-inch (190 mm) acrylic lens was installed, replacing the Fresnel.^[4]

Further reading

• Passage Island Light Station, Survey number HABS MI-385, Historic American Buildings Survey
• Passage Island Light Station, Lighthouse, Survey number HABS MI-385-A, Historic American Buildings Survey
• Passage Island Light Station, Fog Signal Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-B, Historic American Buildings Survey
• Passage Island Light Station, Oil Storage Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-C, Historic American Buildings Survey
• Passage Island Light Station, Privy Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-D, Historic American Buildings Survey
• Passage Island Light Station, Tramway Equipment Building, Survey number HABS MI-385-E, Historic American Buildings Survey
• Passage Island Light Station, Pump House, Survey number HABS MI-385-F, Historic American Buildings Survey

References

1. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Michigan". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
2. Passage Island Light from the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, retrieved 8/19/09
3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
4. Passage Island Light Station from "Seeing the Light," retrieved 9/18/09

External links

• Media related to Passage Island Light Station at Wikimedia Commons