Grand Island, MI ( West Channel Range Lights )


Photographer: Keith W. Churill Photographer: Keith W. Churill In the above photograph, the Rear Range Light is visible just to the left of the Front Range Light	Munising Harbor West Range Lights Christmas, Michigan Rear Range Light Built : 1868, 1914 Construction : Conical, steel Status : Active / Automated Location : Christmas, Michigan Height : 40 feet Access : Car, off Hwy. M-28 approximately 4 miles West of Munising (one half mile East of Christmas, Michigan). The front range light is North of the Hwy. on the beach. The rear can be seen through a clearing on the South side of the Hwy. Front Range Light Built : ? Construction : Cylindrical, steel Status : Active Location : South end of Grand Island, MI. Height : 30 feet Access : Car, off Hwy. M-28 approximately 4 miles West of Munising (one half mile East of Christmas, Michigan. The front range light is North of the Hwy. on the beach. The rear can be seen through a clearing on the South side of the Hwy. Photographer: Keith W. Churill
History : Located on the South side of the West passage between Grand Island and the Michigan mainland, these Range Lights would guide ships through the narrow West entrance into Munising Bay. Congress appropriated a total $16,000 in June of 1860 and July of 1866 and the Secretary of the Treasury authorized one lighthouse to be constructed on the mainland for the West passage and another on the Southeast corner of Grand Island for the East Channel. The original Lighthouse was constructed of wood and replaced in 1914 with a pair of range lights. The original wood lighthouse foundation still stands near the Front Range Light. The Rear Range Light was moved to this location from near the Soo Locks in 1913. The Light was deactivated in 1969 and now operates as an automated system. In 1977 the Rear Range Light was transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. Check with the Alger County Chamber of Commerce as tours are available during the summer months.