Beacons Shining in the Night: The Lighthouses of Michigan
Many people are fascinated by lighthouses. Lighthouses were created to serve a commercial function as navigational aids. However, over the years these beacons in the night have also taken on a symbolic value that goes far beyond their practical purpose. The Clarke Historical Library has a large number of books and other materials documenting Michigan's lighthouses. This exhibit features much of that material.
This web exhibit examines the lighthouses of Michigan from four perspectives.
- A general history of lighthouses in Michigan
- A detailed chronology of Michigan lighthouses
- A discussion of the lighthouse keeper's life
- A bibliography of lighthouse sources within the Clarke Library
To view the various parts of the exhibit, click on one of the links on the left, or to leave the exhibit, press the "Home Page" link which will return you to the Clarke Library home page.
The library thanks John L. Wagner for permission to use images taken from his book, Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective (East Lansing, MI: John L. Wagner, 1994).
This exhibit was prepared by Frank Boles and Marian Matyn.