At Forty Mile Point, the white square tower belongs to the house as much as to the horizon. Red brick wings extend on either side, and trees frame the station above Lake Huron. The building brings two stories together: a dependable coastal signal and the everyday lives of the people who kept it burning.
Quick Facts
| Location | 7323 US 23 North, Rogers City, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Lake Huron · near Hammond Bay |
| Completed | 1896 |
| First lit | April 30, 1897 |
| Tower height | 52 feet |
| Construction | Square brick tower integrated with a two-story keeper’s duplex |
| Optic | Fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Status | Active navigation light and seasonal museum |
| Ownership | Presque Isle County |
| Preservation | 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society |
| Grounds | County Lighthouse Park; open year-round |
History & Description
The Lighthouse Board sought a new light and fog signal near Hammond Bay in 1889. After funding delays, work began in 1896. Construction finished that November, but the light waited for the next navigation season. Keeper Xavier Rains recorded its first lighting on April 30, 1897.
The station’s design combined a square tower with a duplex dwelling. Separate apartments accommodated the keeper and assistant, each with its own entrance and household rooms. Its plan closely resembles Big Bay Point Lighthouse, built during the same period.
The lighthouse society describes a 52-foot tower capped by an octagonal cast-iron lantern. The pale tower contrasts with the dwelling’s exposed brick. The 1896 date stone, paired doors and dormers make the building’s construction and domestic arrangement visible from outside.
The fourth-order Fresnel lens remains in service. Alongside that working role, volunteers preserve the buildings and interpret maritime life. The county received the lighthouse property in 1998; its transfer is commemorated by the plaque in Todd’s gallery.
Historical references: 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society history · Society site information.
Visitor Information
- Getting there
- The park is approximately seven miles north of Rogers City on US-23. Follow Lighthouse Park signs; the society specifically advises against turning at 40 Mile Point Avenue. Get directions →
- Grounds and parking
- The park grounds are open year-round, 8 a.m. to sunset. Parking is available within the park. Winter turnaround loops are not plowed; check conditions before visiting.
- Seasonal buildings
- The society lists museum, pilothouse, school and gift-shop access from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, with Monday closures. Its published Tuesday–Saturday hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Confirm Sunday hours, the season’s final date and tower access directly before travelling.
- Admission
- Admission is free, according to the society. Group visits can be arranged.
- More to explore
- The preserved Calcite pilothouse and Glawe School add to the site’s interpretation. Leave time for the shoreline and the station grounds.
- Contact
- 989-734-4907 · Official lighthouse website →
Visitor information checked October 12, 2026 against the lighthouse society’s website.
Photo Gallery
Photographs by Todd. Select a photograph to view it larger.
Continue Along Lake Huron
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