Comments on: Lake Michigan Lighthouses

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By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:14:40 +0000

I’ve been to Point Arena twice. Unfortunatly last time I was there, you weren’t allowed up next to the lense anymore. Too many people touching it, damaging it or whatever. =(

Hope you get to see one lit.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:29:42 +0000

No I haven’t been to that lighthouse Mike. Looks cool though. Thanks for the picture. I have seen a 1st order Fresnel Lens in the Point Arena Lighthouse in Northern California. It’s pretty awesome to see up close.

The largest lens used on The Great Lakes was a 2nd order Fresnel and there were only five lighthouses that used one. We just visited one of them this week. The Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evenston IL has a 2nd order Fresnel. I guess they still light it up every now and then. That would be cool to see.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:20:19 +0000

Hope you get to photograph them all. I remember reading that Michigan has the most lighthouses of any state.

Not sure if you ever got to see it, but Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero, CA has an anniversary celebration every hear around middle of November (I think it’s saturday closest to Nov 15). During the celebration they light up the original 1st order Fresnel Lense. It’s really an amazing sight. The lense concentrates the beams of light in 16 directions.

This is a shot from 2005.
http://www.luminous-exposure.com/Lighthouses/Images/IMG_2005_30359.jpg

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:00:58 +0000

Thanks for the link Karl.

FYI, there are over 70 lighthouses along the shoreline and islands of Lake Michigan alone. Not all are still being used, but many are. It’s my goal to see and photograph them all. I’m at 15 right now.

The Great Lakes are some of the most dangerous waters out there. I just read that it is estimated that there have been from 6000-10,000 shipwrecks on the Great Lakes with 3000 of them on Lake Michigan. Here is a link to that article
http://chestertontribune.com/Local%20History/3191%20hundreds_of_shipwrecks_populate.htm

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:50:09 +0000

Some of the lighthouses are still in operation. The big lamps have been replaced by modern ones, but they are still being used to guide ships to safety on the Great Lakes.

By: Karl

Karl — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:35:23 +0000

Great shots as always Steve. I had no idea there were so many lighthouses in that part of the world.

On a totally different subject, the Fresno Bee today begins a series of articles on historic airplane crashes in the Sierra Nevada. One of the writers will be hiking to the Mendel Glacier where the remains of several crewmembers were found preserved in ice over the past few years. It promises to be a fascinating series. Go to:

http://www.fresnobee.com/lostflights/

By: Ally

Ally — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:00:35 +0000

Somehow you need to publish your photos. Over the years you have grown as a photographer. These are beautiful…..so glad you got you comments back up. Hey BTW, it is a beautiful morning up here in the Eastern Sierra’s…..don’t you miss it just a little bit.

By: Allie

Allie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:56:45 +0000

Hi Steven!! These are wonderful. I have never have seen a light house, now I want to! Are they all still in operation?
Your pictures are just awesome! Thanks. I hope you have a nice holiday weekend. HIT!! :)