Presque Isle Harbor: The French translation of Presque Isle is "Almost an Island." In the early years, Indians and Frenchmen portaged across the peninsula near the area of the current Municipal Harbor to avoiding several miles of open water. In the 1830's, commercial vessel traffic in Presque Isle Harbor was greatly increasing. This harbor, with it's natural protection from Lake Huron's fury, was often used as a place of refuge for vessels plying the stormy waters. The harbor was also an important stop for vessels needing cordwood to fuel their boilers and continue their voyage. North Bay is on the West side of Presque Isle. It's central depths are around 20 feet, with a rocky bottom, providing vessels with natural shelter from East and South winds.

Lighthouse History :  In 1838, Congress appropriated $5,000 for construction of a lighthouse near the entrance to Presque Isle Harbor. Construction of the stone tower and keeper's dwelling was completed in September of 1840 by Jerimiah Moors of Detroit, MI.

The white-washed tower stands 30 feet tall and is detached from the keeper's dwelling. It's stout conical shape gives it a very rugged appearance. The spiral staircase leading to the watch room consists of 44 steps carved of stone with a unique chain railing. An additional wood ladder (right) of 10 steps leads you up to the lantern room.

Patrick Garrity would be the last keeper of the light, originally appointed by President Lincoln. His wife Mary and four of their children raised in the keeper's dwelling, daughter Anna and son's Thomas, Patrick and John, would later become keeper's themselves. He was transferred to the New Presque Isle Lighthouse in 1871 with this lighthouse being decommissioned.

In 1897, the property went into private ownership. Around 1900, A. C. Stebbins wanted to use the land as a picnic area for guests of his nearby hotel and purchased the lighthouse for $75.00 to do so.

In 1979, the lighthouse was permanently extinguished when the Coast Guard removed the clockwork mechanism used to rotate the light along with the bulb.

Restoration: During the early 1900's, the lantern had been removed from the tower exposing it to the elements. This exposure, along with no maintenance to the keeper's dwelling, put both in very poor condition. A. C. Stebbins began restoration of the lighthouse around 1920. Restoration continued into the 1940's by his son Francis who eventually turned the keeper's dwelling into a summer cottage.

In the 1950's, Francis decided to turn the lighthouse into a museum. To replace the removed lantern, he salvaged one from the Fox Island lighthouse and installed it on the tower. Work was completed in 1965 with intentions to put it back into operation. This would never be as this was a non-chartered light, and thereby its illumination would be in violation of Coast Guard law.

In 1967, the light was transferred to the Stebbins next generation with Francis' son Jim inheriting the lighthouse.

On April 11, 1973, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites and assigned registry number 73000957.

Presque Isle Township purchased the light from Jim Stebbins in 1995. With it being part of their hundred-acre lighthouse park, they continue to run the facility as a museum.

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse
5295 Grand Lake Road
Presque Isle, MI 49777
(517) 595-2787

Hours: Mid-May thru mid-October: 7 days per week, 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.

The tower is open to the public.