Red brick rises above a foreground of daisies and shoreline stones. Baraga’s Sand Point Lighthouse pairs a square tower with a keeper’s dwelling in a quiet setting on Keweenaw Bay.
Quick Facts
| Location | Sand Point, just north of Baraga, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Keweenaw Bay · Lake Superior |
| First lit | August 10, 1878 |
| Historic tower deactivated | 1922 |
| Design | Square brick tower attached to a keeper’s dwelling |
| Original lens | Fifth-order Fresnel |
| Ownership | Keweenaw Bay Indian Community |
| Access | Exterior viewing at Ojibwa Recreation Area; building interior closed |
History & Description
The station grew out of plans to support shipping around L’Anse and Keweenaw Bay. After delays in finding a site, construction began at Sand Point in 1877. The first keeper, John Crebassa, lit the beacon on August 10, 1878.
The square brick tower connects directly to the keeper’s dwelling. Its compact arrangement brought living space and the light together in a single building, with the lantern rising above the roofline.
In 1922, a separate automated beacon replaced the historic tower’s navigation role. The old lighthouse survives under the ownership of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
Todd’s photographs explore the red-brick station from the lawn and through flowers and rocks. The lower viewpoints emphasize the tower and lantern above the surrounding vegetation.
Visitor Information
- Finding the light
- The lighthouse is at the Ojibwa Campground and Recreation Area on the west side of Keweenaw Bay, just north of Baraga. Follow local signs for Lighthouse Road and the recreation area.
- Access
- Plan for exterior viewing; the lighthouse interior is not open to the public. Follow the recreation area’s posted rules and any temporary restrictions. Check the Baraga-area visitor information when planning your stop.
- Photography
- The lawn gives clear views of the attached dwelling and tower. Flowers and rocks can add foreground detail, but stay on permitted paths and avoid trampling vegetation.
- Which Sand Point?
- This red-brick lighthouse is in Baraga on Lake Superior. The Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba, beside Little Bay de Noc, is a different station.
Photo Gallery
Five views of Sand Point Lighthouse in Baraga. Select a photograph to view it larger.