State officials are planning a two-day celebration in August in honor of the Tawas Point Lighthouse’s 150th anniversary.
The Michigan History Center, the DNR and Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park are hosting a two-day anniversary kickoff Aug. 7-8 to coincide with National Lighthouse Day.
The current Tawas Point Lighthouse is the second in the area. The first, built in 1853, became ineffective, the Michigan DNR said, because the buildup of sand to the east left the structure more than a mile inland.
“To keep up with increased shipping traffic in Tawas Bay, the United States Lighthouse Board broke ground on a new lighthouse in the spring of 1876. Construction was completed that November, and the new lighthouse shined its first light from its new location on the peninsula the following spring,” the Michigan DNR explained in a release.
What’s planned for the celebration?
From noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, there will be yard games, lighthouse crafts, story time with Iosco-Arenac District Library staff and visits with partner organizations.
Visitors can enjoy snacks and pick up lighthouse merchandise provided by the friends group. Admission is waived for the day, so you can check out theiconic lighthouse at no cost.
On Saturday, Aug. 8, there will be a free Lee Murdock concert from 7-9 p.m. Admission to the lighthouse on Saturday is $5 for adults 18 and up, $2 for youth ages 6-17, and free for those age 5 and under.
A valid Recreation Passport is needed for vehicle entry to Tawas Point State Park.
What is National Lighthouse Day?
The day celebrates lighthouses and promotes the significance of the nation’s lighthouse heritage in nautical navigation, per the American Lighthouse Foundation.
When is National Lighthouse Day in 2026?
National Lighthouse Day is Aug. 7.
How many lighthouses are on the Great Lakes?
Across the five Great Lakes, there are more than 200 active lighthouses.
Among them are historic lighthouses showcasing centuries of nautical navigation along the Great Lakes. Michigan’s oldest surviving lighthouse stands in Port Huron along the Lake Huron coast, Fort Gratiot Lighthouse built in 1829.
How did National Lighthouse Day come about?
National Lighthouse Day falls on Aug. 7 each year in recognition of the Aug. 7, 1789, passage of a law authorizing the first federal lighthouse, the American Lighthouse Foundation says. Congress approved a resolution marking Aug. 7, 1989, as National Lighthouse Day on the law’s bicentennial.
While efforts to have National Lighthouse Day recognized as an official federal holiday have stalled, lighthouse groups across the nation celebrate the unofficial holiday on Aug. 7 each year, according to the foundation.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Tawas Point Lighthouse celebration planned. How to visit for free
Reporting by Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Basso, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
