Escanaba Harbor Crib Light is a practical landmark: a white steel tower, green bands and a dark circular foundation standing directly in the bay. Its compact form tells a different story from the keeper’s house at nearby Sand Point. Here, the warning moved offshore to meet the changing needs of the harbor.
Quick Facts
| Location | Off Sand Point, Escanaba, Delta County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Little Bay de Noc · Green Bay · Lake Michigan |
| Built | 1938 |
| Tower height | Approximately 40 feet |
| Light elevation | Approximately 45 feet above the water |
| Construction | Two-stage square steel tower on an offshore crib |
| Appearance | White tower with green bands above a dark circular base |
| Status | Active automated navigation light |
| Ownership | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Public access | Exterior viewing from shore or boat; site and tower closed |
History & Description
The Coast Guard dates the crib light’s construction to 1938. By the 1939 shipping season, it had taken over the navigational role of Sand Point Lighthouse. Dredging and shoreline filling had changed the harbor, leaving the older station farther from the shoal it had warned mariners about.
Placing the new beacon offshore brought the signal closer to the hazard. A crib is a foundation built in the water to support a structure above it. At Escanaba, the broad circular base carries a steel tower that narrows in two stages, with an open railing and the light at its summit.
The tower’s white surfaces and green markings are easily recognized against the water. Round openings punctuate its walls; the small platform around the base belongs to the working station, rather than a visitor promenade. It has no attached keeper’s dwelling.
The light was designed for remote control, and the Coast Guard records automation in 1976. It remains an active harbor aid. Its continuing service links the modern waterfront to the long history of ships entering Little Bay de Noc.
Historical references: U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office · Delta County Historical Society · University of North Carolina Lighthouse Directory.
Visitor Information
- View from shore
- The light is visible offshore from the Sand Point waterfront. The Lighthouse Directory identifies the Sand Point Lighthouse area as a good viewing location. A longer lens helps isolate the tower from shore.
- Find the light
- View the offshore location → This map pin identifies the beacon, not a driving destination.
- Boat photography
- A boat offers closer exterior views. Confirm an operator’s route and conditions beforehand; viewing the light does not imply permission to land.
- Access
- The crib and tower are closed to visitors. There is no pedestrian connection from shore and no public tower tour.
- See both chapters
- Pair a waterfront view of the crib light with a visit to the historic Sand Point station. Check the Delta County Historical Society for its museum’s current seasonal arrangements.
Visitor information checked October 12, 2026 against the Lighthouse Directory.
Photo Gallery
Photographs by Todd. Select a photograph to view it larger.
One Last Light Before the Docks
The crib light was a bonus at the end of my lighthouse charter, connecting the day’s offshore views with Sand Point’s earlier history.
Join the Escanaba Harbor Bonus Stop →