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Save Our Lights
Michigan has over 120 lighthouses along its shores, more than any other state in the country! From tall and imposing like the Little Sable Lighthouse near Pentwater to diminutive and stout like the Detroit River Light near Lake Erie, each lighthouse has its own look and style while being originally constructed for the same vital purpose: to help safely guide mariners along the potentially trecherous waters of the Great Lakes.
Today, many lighthouses are open the public as living history museums, allowing people to walk the spiral stairs to the lantern, explore living quarters, and breathe in the fresh lake air. Recognizing the iconic nature of these beacons as many were transferred out of federal ownership, in 2000 the State of Michigan established the Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) to help lighthouse stewards restore and repair their historic lighthouses. Funded solely by the sale of the unique "Save Our Lights" fundraising license plate, annual MLAP grant awards support lighthouse preservation across the state. Over $2.7 million in matching grants has been awarded since the program began.
Learn more about lighthouses in Michigan at the links below. When you are ready to visit a real lighthouse, explore the lighthouse guides available at michigan.org.
Lighthouse Resources
National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (NHLPA)
The NHLPA recognizes the cultural, recreational, and educational value associated with historic light station properties by allowing them to be transferred at no cost to Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit corporations, educational agencies, and community development organizations.
Preserve Michigan Lighthouses
Michigan has more lighthouses than any other U.S. state. Learn how you can help preserve them today!
