St. Martin Island Light is an exoskeleton lighthouse on St. Martin Island. It marks one of four passages between Lake Michigan and the bay of Green Bay.[8] Constructed in 1905, this light tower is the only example in the US of a pure exoskeletal tower on the Great Lakes. Similar designs exist in Canada.[9] Painted white, the hexagonal tower is made of iron plates which are supported by six exterior steel posts that have latticed buttresses.[5][10]

St. Martin Island Light
St. Martin Island Light USCG Archive
Map
LocationSt. Martin Island Lake Michigan
Coordinates45°30′10″N 86°45′27″W / 45.50278°N 86.75750°W / 45.50278; -86.75750
Tower
Constructed1905 Edit this on Wikidata
FoundationGranite[4]
ConstructionSteel exoskeleton[4]
Height75 ft (23 m)[1]
Markingswhite with black lantern[4]
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place, Michigan state historic site Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1905
Focal height81 feet (25 m)[2]
Lensocculting 4th Order Fresnel illuminated by a 24,000 candlepower incandescent oil vapor lamp. Rotating red and white flash panels.[5] (original), 7.5-inch (190 mm) Tideland Signal acrylic lens[6] (current)
Range18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)[3]
CharacteristicAl W R 10s: W fl 5s ec.; R fl 5s ec. Light visible from 135° to 355°, dark sector covering island.[3]
St. Martin Island Light Station
Nearest cityFairport, Michigan
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
MPSU.S. Coast Guard Lighthouses and Light Stations on the Great Lakes TR
NRHP reference No.84001387[7]
Added to NRHPJuly 19, 1984

The cream city brick lightkeeper's house was modeled after that used for the Plum Island Range Lights.[5]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 19, 1984, Reference #84001387 as St. Martin Light Station (U.S. Coast Guard/ Great Lakes TR). It is not on the state list/inventory.[11] A steam fog signal was also installed.[12] which was thereafter replaced by a diaphone.[5]

The lighthouse keeper's dwelling has been abandoned and "is in poor condition."[10]

The light station is closed to the public. It is managed by in partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Band of the Odawa Indian Nation.[9][13]

References

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  1. ^ Pepper, Terry. "Database of Tower Heights". Seeing the Light. terrypepper.com. Archived from the original on 2000-09-18. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  2. ^ Pepper, Terry. "Database of Focal Heights". Seeing the Light. terrypepper.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  3. ^ a b Light List, Volume VII, Great Lakes (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard.
  4. ^ a b c "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Michigan". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01.
  5. ^ a b c d "Pepper, Terry, Seeing the Light, St. Martin Island Lighthouse".[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, St. Martin Island Light". Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  7. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "Wobser, David, St. Martin Island Light". Boatnerd. Archived from the original on 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  9. ^ a b Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  10. ^ a b "Lighthouse Depot, St. Martin Island Light". Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  11. ^ "Maritime History Project, Michigan Lighthouses, Inventory of Historic Light Stations, St. Martin Island Light". National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  12. ^ "Saint Martin Island Light Station". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-11-12., Michigan Historic Sites Online,
  13. ^ "Little Traverse Bay Band of the Odawa Indian Nation". Archived from the original on 2011-12-25. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
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