Lighthouse Enthusiasts Meet on Island

Hundreds of lighthouse enthusiasts gathered on Mackinac Island for a reunion and tour of area sentinels Monday, August 29 to Thursday, September 1. The gathering is sponsored by Harbour Lights of San Diego, California, maker of lighthouse reproductions. The annual event is held on the Island to pay tribute to the region’s many lighthouses, and attendees will visit 12 area beacons during their stay.

In recognition of its commitment to lighthouse legacy, Harbour Lights has created a replica of the historic Waugoshance lighthouse, which a local preservation society is seeking to restore. This long-abandoned lighthouse is one of the structures on the tour.

The old lighthouse was known as “the castle of the lake,” as it proudly guarded the western entrance to the Straits of Mackinac, now part of Wilderness State Park. Among its unique features, the old lighthouse was the first Great Lakes beacon to be outfitted with a 4th Order Fresnel Lens, back in 1851.

Harbour Lights founder Bill Younger, his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Kim, will host a reunion dinner at Mission Point Resort and other activities during the three-day celebration.