Lighthouse Climb...Whitefish Point

Late afternoon we arrived at Whitefish Point. It was still quite foggy and overcast and we were greeted by a foghorn (not the original) which is (hopefully) the video that I have placed in this spot! 

Due to the increase in shipping activity (especially mining), and the large number of shipwrecks near this location, Congress approved a Lighthouse (and later a Lifesaving Station) on Lake Superior at Whitefish Point which was completed in 1849. Weather was not kind to it, and it was rebuilt in 1861. Not the typical construction as to what we are used to, but actually an iron cylinder, much more stable in the high winds and weather at this location. 

 On this very rainy afternoon, you can see the light and the keepers quarters. An assistant keeper was deemed necessary in 1895, and the quarters were remodeled into a duplex.

 Just as were were getting ready to leave, the sun started to come out and you can see the grounds from....the gift shop! Where they had dozens of books I really wanted to take with me, but I narrowed it down to....4!

The large rudder and tiller in the foreground is from the M.M.Drake. The 201 foot vessel sank 6 miles west of Whitefish Point on October 2,1901 in a collision while trying to tow the 212 foot schooner Michigan.

Of course, if the tower is open you know I HAVE to climb it! It was only 57 steps to the top of the cast iron tower, but it was VERY narrow, nearly claustrophobic, the steps were the narrowest I had seen, even with my tiny feet! And (being an iron tube) no windows. That was a first for me. So this is the view to the south, the red roof below is the keepers quarters, behind that a building with a VERY touching (and teary) film about the Edmund Fitzgerald and the raising of its bell a few years ago. To the rear left of that is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (highly recommended) and to the right....the impressive gift shop!

 Here's Alyssa waving at me from below, no one else wanted to climb to the top. Rule #1 should be "Never pass  an opportunity!", the tower had been closed to the public for many years, but has just been recently reopened to climbing as it is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year! Of the rebuilt one that is.

 Another view from the top. To the left is the gift store and to the right was the barracks for the men that manned the Lifeboat Rescue Station here from (I think) 1923 to 1970. This building now serves as a Bed & Breakfast. I think some time I may just come back & stay for an evening! The closer building (that I have cut off) was the building in which the rescuers stored their lifeboat and other lifesaving equipment.

Looking west on the shoreline of

Lake Superior.

Directly north was a nice boardwalk (didn't  have a chance to explore that),beach and at the bottom of the photo, the foghorn building, reconstructed in 1935. Although you can hear the foghorn sound in the video, the actual foghorn was removed by the Coast Guard in 1995, as they considered it obsolete, with the advances in shipboard navigation and all. 

 And, finally the view to the east, the "point" of Whitefish Point and Whitefish Bay. Upon leaving, there was a smaller building on the opposite site of the parking lot. Seems like the wooded area is a refuge for migrating birds, especially spring!

 I'm not sure if you can see my foot, but it shows just how narrow the steps are! My leg is against the back of the previous step and my toes are hanging over! Keep in mind a size 7 is too big for my teeny feet!

The Lifesaving Station had some really

great exhibits! I wish I would have had more time here! This was the preferred method to rescue crew off of vessels, as it was quick and less risky! It's a breeches buoy. The Keeper would load a Lyle gun that sent some sort of projectile to the ship in peril. The projectile was attached to a line. The crew then secured the line as instructed, and the the Keeper would send the breeches (looked like a big pair of britches if you ask me) over. The line would act like a pulley system, bringing crew to safety, one at a time.

 The last resort was to haul out the Beebe-McClellan self-bailing, water-ballast surfboat. A crew of 6 to 8 oarsman and the keeper would run this 25x7 boat to the water (and it wouldn't necessarily be the water right it front of the light either, sometimes it was necessary to port it a few miles!), and start rowing to the folks who needed to be rescued. They could bring aboard up to 15 survivors. One of the books that I almost bought detailed the Lifesaving Division and explained more in-depth of their routines and had several stories of rescue.....I'll be sure to pick that up next time!

And I certainly couldn't leave out

a picture of the bell of the

Edmund Fitzgerald. Raised only a

few years ago, it is now housed in

the museum.

By the time we left, the skies had started to clear, and the fog horn had ceased .