A slender white tower bearing Marine City’s name rises from a green lawn beside the St. Clair River. This is the historic Peche Island Rear Range Light, preserved ashore after decades of guiding ships near the entrance to the Detroit River.
Quick Facts
| Current location | Lighthouse Park · Marine City, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Current waterfront | St. Clair River |
| Original station | Off Peche Island · Detroit River entrance from Lake St. Clair |
| First lighted | 1908 |
| Deactivated and relocated | 1983 |
| Height in Marine City | 60 feet |
| Ownership | City of Marine City |
| Status | Relocated historic light · Inactive |
| Visiting | Exterior viewing in a waterfront park |
History & Description
Built in 1908, the Peche Island Rear Range Light helped guide vessels from Lake St. Clair toward the Detroit River. As a range light, it worked with a front beacon: aligning the two lights indicated the intended course.
The steel-plate tower stood on an offshore crib foundation. Years of storms and ice took their toll on that foundation, and the historic tower was replaced by a modern skeletal structure in 1983.
Rather than being lost, the old tower was brought to Marine City and installed on its waterfront. The preserved beacon now overlooks the St. Clair River, well away from its original station near Peche Island.
Its tapering white body, projecting gallery, and lantern remain the defining features. Trees, benches, and river views give this former working navigation aid a new setting as a public landmark.
Visitor Information
- Find the relocated tower
- Visit Lighthouse Park along Water Street in downtown Marine City. The preserved lighthouse is on the St. Clair River waterfront; a trip to Peche Island is not needed to see this tower.
- Access
- Plan for exterior viewing from the park. Interior or tower access should not be assumed. Follow posted park rules and keep access to nearby buildings clear.
- Explore the waterfront
- Allow time for a walk along the river and through downtown. The setting offers views of passing river traffic and the opposite shoreline.
- Plan ahead
- See the City of Marine City’s lighthouse information for local details.
- Photography
- Leafy branches frame the tower from the lawn, while a portrait view emphasizes its height. A wider streetside composition shows how the lighthouse fits into the downtown waterfront.
Photo Gallery
Four views of the historic tower at its Marine City location. Select a photograph to view it larger.
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