Crisp Point Lighthouse

Background Information…

The Crisp Point Lighthouse is located on the deserted shore of Lake Superior, 37 miles north of Newberry, Michigan. Crisp Point Lighthouse is considered one of the most inaccessible and lonely mainland lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula, and can only be reached by taking a narrow country road through the Lake Superior State Forest.

This stately light was activated in 1904, at the already established Crisp Point Life Saving Station, where the “Storm Warriors” of Life Saving Station #10 battled the violence of Lake Superior to save shipwrecked sailors. The Life Saving Station was named for it’s first keeper and famed lifesaver, Christopher Crisp.

The Life Saving Station consisted of a combination five room station house with room for the keeper and serfmen, serfboats, and necessary life-saving apparatus. A tall lookout tower stood by the keeper’s house and several houses for serfmen and their families were built on the grounds. A Fog Signal building was added to the Life Saving Station in 1903 but was destroyed by a violent storm the same year and had to be rebuilt. The lighthouse, an oil house containing fuel for the light and fog horn, and a two-story brick light keeper’s dwelling with a basement were constructed in 1904 and added to the Crisp Point Life Saving Station. This dwelling was for the lighthouse keeper and the two assistant keepers.

Other outbuildings were then added such as two barns, a boathouse and landing, and a tramway to aid in launching the surf boats. The lighthouse originally contained a 360 degree red Fourth Order Fresnel Lens beaming out light for 15 miles over Lake Superior, but was replaced by a 300 millimeters plastic lens. A brick service room was added in 1906 and a landing crib was added on the Lake Superior shoreline in 1907. All but the lighthouse tower are now gone. The Light Station was deactivated and abandoned in 1947 and Lake Superior took over Crisp Point. Storms damaged the station so badly that it was necessary for the Coast Guard to demolish the buildings in 1965, but they left the lighthouse tower and service building standing. Since then, Lake Superior has claimed all but one wall of the service building.

In February of 1997 the Crisp Point Light was saved from the auction block and purchased by Luce County, but Lake Superior’s violent storms still wrecked havoc on the lighthouse. The Crisp Point Historical Society was formed. They leased the land from Luce County and major preservation was started. Stone and sandbags have been hauled in and placed to try to stop the erosion, the tower has been cleaned and whitewashed, a memorial boardwalk has been built around the lighthouse and a tree and bush planting project has been initiated. The search is also underway for the original Fourth Order Fresnel Lens.

Getting There…

A drive out to Crisp Point is an adventure in itself and a delightful way to spend an afternoon. The Crisp Point Lighthouse was built on the edge on what was and still is, largely primeval forest. The road is well marked and seems to go on forever but it’s well worth the trip. You drive on and on through the forest until you make that final turn and the spectacular tower comes into view above the trees. Enjoy the drive through the forest, take a walk along the deserted sandy beach, wade in the cool Lake Superior water, and maybe hunt for a few agates while you visit this beautiful light tower.

Take M-123 north of Newberry to the intersection with CR-500 (this is a gravel road). Turn north on CR-500 to the intersection of CR-412. Take CR-412, follow the signs, and you will go right to the lighthouse. On your return trip, watch carefully for the intersection with CR-500 and you will soon be back on M-123.

Clues…

At 300 degrees a large piece of driftwood lies just beyond Max’s resting place; at 270 degrees the lighthouse tower stands defiant against Lake Superior’s fury; at 95 degrees 2 tall spruce trees rise along the far shoreline; at your feet find the letterbox tucked into the end of a hollow log.