Whitefish Point’s white iron framework rises above red roofs and a broad green lawn. Its open braces give the tower a lightness that contrasts with the heavy maritime history of this exposed headland. Here, a working beacon and a preserved station stand beside a museum devoted to the ships and people of the Great Lakes.
Quick Facts
| Location | Whitefish Point · near Paradise, Chippewa County |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Lake Superior · approach to Whitefish Bay |
| Station established | 1849 |
| Present tower | 1861 |
| Tower height | 76 feet |
| Tower form | White iron tower with an open supporting framework |
| Status | Active navigation light |
| Visitor site | Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and historic station |
History & Description
Whitefish Point is a turning point for ships entering and leaving Whitefish Bay. A light station began operating here in 1849; the present tower followed in 1861. The station remains Lake Superior’s oldest operating lighthouse.
The tower’s central cylinder is surrounded by an open framework of white-painted iron supports. Black galleries and a dark lantern cap the structure, while the keeper’s dwelling and neighboring buildings form a compact station below. The skeletal construction is especially striking from close beneath the braces.
The point marks the eastern end of the Shipwreck Coast. Storms, heavy traffic, and collisions made these waters dangerous; the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 remains their best-known tragedy. The museum’s exhibit includes the ship’s recovered bell.
A Coast Guard rescue station joined the lighthouse in 1923. Personnel left the site in 1970, but the beacon continued operating. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society opened its first exhibits here in 1985, giving the preserved station a new role in telling the lake’s maritime stories.
Visitor Information
- Getting there
- From Paradise, follow Whitefish Point Road north for about 11 miles to the museum campus at 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road. The final approach passes through the wooded landscape of the eastern Upper Peninsula.
- Museum and station
- Allow time for the Shipwreck Museum, keeper’s quarters, and historic rescue-station buildings as well as the lighthouse exterior. Check the museum’s current seasonal hours, tickets, and available building access before traveling; confirm any tower-climb opportunities directly.
- Shoreline
- The station sits beside Lake Superior’s open shore. Bring a layer for wind, keep to designated routes, and respect posted habitat and access restrictions.
- Photography
- Wider views connect the tower with the red-roofed dwelling. Close views emphasize the intersecting braces, riveted central cylinder, and black lantern galleries. Bright sun can create deep shadows beneath the framework.
Plan your visit with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum’s hours, admission, and directions. Read the historical society’s Whitefish Point Light Station history.
Photo Gallery
Views of the tower, keeper’s quarters, and station grounds. Select any photograph to view it larger.
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