Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
Fort Gratiot, named after General Charles Gratiot, the engineer in charge of its construction, was established in 1814 to guard the juncture of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan and the second oldest on the Great Lakes. The first lighthouse in this area was built in 1825 and was located approximately where the first Blue Water Bridge stands. De to poor construction and a storm, it collapsed in 1828. In 1829, a new lighthouse was built north of the military fort by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first U.S. Senators. The new location made it easier for ships to spot as they entered the rapids at the head of the St. Clair River.
Originally seventy-four feet high, the white painted brick tower was extended to its present height of eighty-six feet in the early 1860s.
The first official lighthouse keeper, Colonel George McDougall, Jr., served from 1825 until his death in 1842.
The green flashing light that was automated in 1933 may be seen for seventeen miles. The two-story brick lighthouse keeper's house, with its hipped gable roof and pointed gothic porch, was built in 1874.
Today, a Coast Guard station and the lighthouse watch over one of the busiest waterways in the world.
Why we are here:
The historic Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable and beloved landmarks on the Great Lakes. Having stood on the same ground for nearly 180 years, it is an object of pride for locals, a must-see for visitors and an
important landmark for sailors. Standing on the shores of Lake Huron since
1829, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is located at the foot of Garfield Street, just north of the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. It is a 5 acre complex including the lighthouse, keeper’s duplex, foghorn building, and crew quarters.
Because it is so badly in need of restoration and repair, the Coast Guard closed the
lighthouse to tours in August 2008. The FRIENDS of the FORT GRATIOT LIGHT is a
group of concerned citizens, preservationists, and local business leaders. We came together in early 2009 to dedicate efforts and funds to restore and renovate the entire compound.
A gala fundraiser in April 2009 raised $30,000 toward the goal of restoration of the tower. The FRIENDS have partnered with St Clair County government to take on this challenge.
