Big Sable Point Lighthouse

USLHS Seal Emblem for the US Lighthouse Service

Big Sable Point Lighthouse (Grand Point Au Sable Light), eastern shore of Lake Michigan, near Ludington, Mason County, Michigan

BIG SABLE POINT (GRAND POINT AU SABLE) LIGHT
Location: Eastern shore of Lake Michigan; nearest Town or City is Ludington, Michigan
Date Built: 1867
Type of Structure: This lighthouse was originally a brick conical cast iron tower white with middle third black; it was encased in steel plates in 1900.
Height: Tower height was 112 feet with a height of focal plan of 106 feet
Characteristics: Fixed White
Lens: Original third order Fresnel lens (now at Rose Hawley Museum at White Pine Village) and was automated in 1968.
Status: Light is operational with current use active aid to navigation
Historical Information:
• The lighthouse station was leased to the Foundation for Behavioral Research in 1986. The foundation has worked with the Big Sable Lighthouse Association to preserve the buildings.
• Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Keepers:
• Alonzo Hyde, Sr. (1867-1871)
• Newton Bird (1871-1873)
• Burr Caswell (1874-1882)
• Hans Hansen (1882-1887)
• James Rich (1887-1888)
• Tomas Bailey (1889-1893)
• George Blake (1899—1903)
• Samuel Gagnon (1905-1923)
• Joseph Kimmers (1922-1923)
• Leweilyn Vanatter (1923-1936)
• George Rogan (1936-1949)
• David Sauers (1949-1954)
• Henry Vavrina (1955-1965)
• Homer Meverden (1965-1968)
Researched and written by Catherine (Kitty) Price, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Light House Society.