History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse
The history of the Copper Harbor light unfolded in three phases: The construction of the 1848 stone tower, the replacement of the tower in 1866 with the new brick lighthouse, and the transfer of the light in 1933 to the skeleton tower.
The first two lighthouses constructed on Lake Superior were located at Whitefish Point and Copper Harbor. Both were authorized by congress in 1847, built in 1848, and both went into service at the beginning of the shipping season in 1849. Both structures have been replaced since that time. The original Copper Harbor light structure was a 65 ft, whitewashed stone tower which was serviced by a completely separate stone dwelling where light keepers and their families lived. The original stone tower no longer exists, but the old light keeper dwelling remains and now serves as the lighthouse museum. Visitors to this museum are reminded that they are standing in the oldest remaining lighthouse dwelling on Lake Superior, as nothing remains of the original lightkeeper dwelling at Whitefish Point.
The current Copper Harbor Lighthouse, built in 1866.
In 1866 the old stone tower was removed. Records indicate that it was no match for the harsh weather of the Lake Superior region. The tower was replaced by the brick lighthouse which stands on the point at the harbor entrance today. Keepers and their families lived and worked in this lighthouse until 1919, when the oil powered 4th order Fresnel lens was replaced by an acetylene lantern. The new acetylene lantern did not demand regular maintenance to the extent that the old oil lantern did, so a keeper in residence was no longer required. The last keeper of the Copper Harbor Light, Henry Corgan, was transferred to the St. Clair Flats Light near Detroit. Charles Davis, the Range Light keeper who lived across the harbor, was then assigned the additional duties of periodic maintenance at the Copper Harbor Lighthouse. There has not been a keeper living in the Copper Harbor Lighthouse since 1919.
The skeleton tower in front of the lighthouse was constructed in 1933, and the acetylene lamp was transferred from the brick lighthouse to the tower. This was done presumably to get the light higher up from the surface of the lake, and hence visible at more distance. The fact that the lighthouse itself was offered by the Federal Government as a summer rental cottage during this period may also have had something to do with the transfer of the light. Regardless, in 1937 the acetylene lamp on the skeleton tower was replaced by an electric beacon, beginning the current phase of the light's history. The beacon has been replaced by higher tech lighting devices since 1937, but remains an electric powered lens to this day. And while the Copper Harbor Light is still a major navigational aid on Lake superior, it no longer resides in the lighthouse tower, but now is situated on the skeleton tower which stands in front of the lighthouse.
The Light Keeper's Residence.
Ownership of the lighthouse grounds transferred from the US Coast Guard to Ft Wilkins State Park in 1958. Since then the property has been an ongoing archeological research and restoration project of the Michigan History Center. The original 1848 stone dwelling is now the Lighthouse Museum, restored to depict lighthouse life in the mid 19th century. The 1866 lighthouse has been restored and furnished to depict the life of keepers and their families in the early 20th century. The grounds of the historic complex at the lighthouse point are alive with the history of copper mining dating back to the voyageurs of the mid 17th century, and includes information on the Douglas Houghton geological expedition of 1840. Local shipwreck artifacts dating back to 1844 are also on display.
| Name of the Lightkeeper | Date of Appointment | Yearly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Clow | Feb. 24, 1849 | $350 |
| Henry C. Shruter | Aug. 5, 1853 | $350 |
| Napoleon Beedon | March 23, 1855 | $350, then $560 |
| John Power | Sept 1, 1869 | $560 |
| Charles Corgan | Nov 20, 1872 | $560 |
| Edward Chambers | Nov. 11, 1881 | $560 |
| James W. Rich | Oct. 17, 1882 | $560 |
| (Inactive) | Oct. 6, 1883 - June 1888 | - |
| Henry Corgan | June 30, 1888 - 1919 | $560 |
The Copper Harbor Range Lights
The arrival of a ship at Copper Harbor was no guarantee of safe entry into the protected waters of the natural harbor itself. A mostly submerged reef spans the entire entrance, with only one narrow gap where the water is deep enough to cross safely. At least three shipwrecks occurred prior to 1865 as vessels struck the submerged part of this reef. One of these, the City of Superior in 1857, was a total loss of vessel and cargo. In 1865 the United States Lighthouse Establishment constructed a set of range lights located on the mainland opposite of the harbor entrance. These lights, when lined up, guide ships through the gap and safely into the harbor. The range lights remain in operation to this day. They are situated at Astor Point, just across Fanny Hooe Creek from the Lighthouse Overlook, located near the Ft. Wilkins State Park Headquarters Building.
More definitive, detailed history is available in:
LIGHTING THE WAY: A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse By Barry C. James
Publisher: The Fort Wilkins Natural History Association ISBN # 0-9675103-0-9
This book is available in paperback at the Lighthouse Store and Boat Tour ticket office located in the Copper Harbor Marina. Interested persons may also call the Copper Harbor Boat Tour Office:
Summer (906) 289-4966
Winter (906) 337-2310
The price is $9.95 plus shipping and handling.