Location | St. Martin Island Lake Michigan |
---|---|
Coordinates | 45°30′10″N 86°45′27″W / 45.50278°N 86.75750°W |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1905 |
Foundation | Granite[4] |
Construction | Steel exoskeleton[4] |
Height | 75 ft (23 m)[1] |
Markings | white with black lantern[4] |
Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place, Michigan state historic site |
Light | |
First lit | 1905 |
Focal height | 81 feet (25 m)[2] |
Lens | occulting 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) |
Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi)[3] |
Characteristic | Al 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 city | Fairport, Michigan |
Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
MPS | U.S. Coast Guard Lighthouses and Light Stations on the Great Lakes TR |
NRHP reference No. | 84001387[7] |
Added to NRHP | July 19, 1984 |
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]
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]