Little Traverse Light

Infobox Lighthouse

---

caption = The Little Traverse Lighthouse with its replacement light tower and fog bell
location = Harbor Springs, Michigan
coordinates = coord|45|25|08|N|84|58|42|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearlit = 1884
automated =
yeardeactivated = 1963
foundation =
construction = red brick
shape = Square, attached 2 story Lighthouse keeper's house
height = Tower - convert|41|ft|m [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towers.htm Terry Pepper, database on heights and focal planes.] ]
elevation = Focal plane - convert|41|ft|m
marking = Red brick, Natural with white lantern, red roof
lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
currentlens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
range =
characteristic =
ARLHS = USA-444
USCG = 7-17855

The Little Traverse Light is located in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the north side of the Little Traverse Bay of Lake Michigan on Harbor Point in West Traverse Township near Harbor Springs, Michigan. It marks the entrance to Little Traverse Bay.

History

In 1871, Orlando M. Poe recommended the construction of this light. However, a paucity of funds delayed the United States Congress in acting on the request. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/littletraverse/littletraverse.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Little Traverse Light.] ]

The site was purchased in 1883, and the United States Lighthouse Service built the light in 1884.

The decagonal lantern room is painted white and has a red roof. The fourth order Fresnel lens was manufactured in Paris by L. Sautter, Lemonnie & Co. in 1881.

A "very rare" fog bell square pyramidal tower was built in 1896 in front of the tower. The structure and the striking mechanism are still in place. [ [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miwl.htm Lighthouse Digest, Western Michigan lights, Little Traverse Light, (University of North Carolina.] ] Other structures included a brick paint locker, summer kitchen, wooden boat storage shed, and auto garage [ [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/littletraverse.htm Wobser, David, Little Traverse Light at boatnerd.com.] ]

The lighthouse was manned by personnel until 1963 when a modern replacement light and tower was constructed, consisting of a white steel skeleton on a foundation of concrete. It is 62 feet tall, with a focal plane of 72 ft (22 m), It emits a green flash every six seconds. It is located on the point east of the lighthouse. [ [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miwl.htm Lighthouse Digest, Western Michigan lights, Little Traverse Light, (University of North Carolina.] [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/littrav.htm National Park Service, Maritime Heritage, Inventory of Historic Light Stations, Little Traverse Light.] ]

It is very difficult to visit the lighthouse as it is located on private property and unless you own a house in the gated community or are a guest you are not allowed inside. There is checkpoint that is manned 24 hours a day at the entrance so entering with a vehicle is not possible. If you park at a meter in nearby downtown you may be able to walk in if you look like you belong there.

This unique lighthouse has been the subject of paintings. [ [http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/1184861459014924918TZZpCQ L. William Boyer, Little Traverse Light.] ]

Elizabeth Whitley VanRiper Williams was one of the first female Lighthouse keepers to serve on the Great Lakes, and wrote a memoir that included her experiences at this light. [ [http://www.wmta.org/little-traverse-(harbor-point)-light-44/ West Michigan Tourist Association, "Little Traverse (Harbor Point) Light".] ]

Bibliography and further reading

* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/bibliography.html Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.]
* Clifford, Mary Louise & Clifford, J. Candace, "Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers", Michigan History Magazine (November/December 1981).
* Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, "The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses" (2002) ISBN 1592231020; ISBN 978-1592231027.
* Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. "The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes." Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
* Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, "American Lighthouses" (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0762703245; ISBN 978-0762703241.
* Jones, Ray,"The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference" (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0762727357; ISBN 978-0762727353.
* Noble, Dennis, "Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy" (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1557506388; ISBN 9781557506382.
* Oleszewski, Wes, "Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses", (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
* Penrod, John, "Lighthouses of Michigan", (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
* Penrose, Laurie and Bill, A" Traveler’s Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses" (Petoskey, Michigan: Friede Publications, 1999). ISBN 0923756035 ISBN 9780923756031
*
* Putnam, George R., "Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States", (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
* United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation", (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
* [http://www.uscg.mil/History/weblighthouses/h_lhbib.asp United States Coast Guard, "Aids to Navigation Historical Bibliography".]
*
* Wagner, John L., "Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective", (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
* Wargin, Ed, "Legends of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio" (Ann Arbor Media Group, 2006). ISBN 9781587262517.
*Williams, Elizabeth Whitney Van Riper, "A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons".
* Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, "Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia" Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993.

ee also

*Lighthouses in the United States

External links

* [http://marinas.com/view/lighthouse/898 Aerial photos, Little Traverse Light, marinas.com.]
* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/Maps/mapIt.htm?file=GL/MichiganNorth.xml Interactive map of Lights in Northern Lake Michigan, mapped by Google.]
* [http://lighthousesrus.org/MichiganNorth.htm Interactive map/list/information of lighthouses in northeastern Lake Michigan] by LighthousesRus.
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Little%20Traverse%20Bay%20Lighthouse Lighthouse Central, Photographs, History, Directions and Way points for Little Traverse Bay Light, "The Ultimate Guide to West Michigan Lighthouses" by Jerry Roach (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - 2005).] ISBN 0-9747977-0-7.
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miwl.htm Lighthouse Digest, Western Michigan lights, Little Traverse Light, (University of North Carolina.]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=203 Lighthouse friends, Little Traverse Lighthouse.]
* [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_mhc_shpo_lightmap_50933_7.pdf Map of Michigan Lighthouse] in PDF Format.
* National Park Service [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/littrav.htm Maritime Heritage, Inventory of Historic Light Stations, Little Traverse Light.]
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/littletraverse/littletraverse.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Little Traverse Light.]
* United States Coast Guard [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp 's complete list of Michigan lights including information and photographs of Little Traverse light.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).]
* [http://www.wmta.org/little-traverse-(harbor-point)-light-44/ West Michigan Tourist Association, "Little Traverse (Harbor Point) Light".]
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/littletraverse.htm Wobser, David, Little Traverse Light at boatnerd.com.]

Notes