Presque Isle Range Lights, MI

Photographer: Keith W. Churill

Rear Range with Keeper's Dwelling

Photographer: Roy B. Westin

Front Range in it's original location.

Presque Isle - Range

Presque Isle, MI

Built : 1869

Construction : Square/Integral

Status : In-active

Location : Presque Isle, MI - Presque Isle County

Height : Rear - 38 feet / Front - 15 feet

Access : Car, parking nearby. Note: The rear range is a private residence so please respect their privacy.

Directions: From the North (Rogers City) on US23, turn east on Hwy. 638 / Highway Road. Follow to a fork in the road and stay to the left continuing on Hwy. 638. Follow approximately 2 miles and turn North onto Grand Lake road. Follow approximately 1 mile, the Rear Range light is located just before the municipal harbor one the left side of the road. Continue an additional 1/4 mile to the entrance of the Old Presque Isle lighthouse property to view the re-located Front Range light.

Photo courtesy of: U.S. Coast Guard

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 1869, Congress appropriated $7,500 for the construction of two range lights to help in guiding vessels into Presque Isle Harbor. The range lights were completed and first lit that same year. Both the Front and the Rear Range lights are constructed of wood standing atop limestone foundations from nearby quarries. Original markings were white with red trim. They are constructed almost identical to the Bailey's Harbor lights on Lake Michigan and Copper Harbor Ranges on Lake Superior.

Photographer: Keith W. Churill

The Rear Range light is a square tower integral with the keeper's dwelling. It is positioned approximately 800 feet behind the Front Range light. It's tower stands 35 feet in height with a range of 11 miles.

The Front Range light is of an octagonal shape. It stands 15 feet high and was fitted a Fifth Order Fresnel lens having a range of 11 miles.

Patrick Garrity took to keeping the two Presque Isle Range lights in 1885, being transferred from the New Presque Isle lighthouse. His wife Mary is known to have regularly sat in a rocking chair through the night at the Rear Range light looking out into Lake Huron. Patrick's Keeper career would end up with almost 50 years of service.

Photographer: Keith W. Churill

The new Front and Rear Range Lights / Markers

With the installation of two modern range lights in the 1960's, the original lights are no longer in service. The new system provides mariners with a 274 degree lighted range guiding them through shoals extending North off North Albany Point and a shoal extending 0.6 mile East from the South end of Presque Isle.

The rear range is now a private residence and the Front Range has been re-located to the entrance of the Old Presque Isle lighthouse park property.