Above the red roofs and cedars of Lake Michigan’s northern shore, Seul Choix Point’s white tower still gives the station its unmistakable silhouette. Green gallery ironwork and a red lantern roof add color to a place whose story reaches beyond navigation to fishing, family life, and the work of preserving an entire light station.
Quick Facts
| Location | Seul Choix Point, near Gulliver · Schoolcraft County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Northern Lake Michigan |
| Station established | 1892 |
| Present tower first lit | 1895 |
| Tower height | Approximately 78 feet |
| Construction | Tapering brick tower on an ashlar stone foundation |
| Original optic | Third-order Fresnel lens |
| Automation | 1972 |
| Status | Active aid to navigation; historic station and museums |
| Ownership & stewardship | State of Michigan · operated by the Gulliver Historical Society in cooperation with the Michigan DNR |
History & Description
Seul Choix means “only choice,” a name associated with the shelter this point offered along an exposed stretch of Lake Michigan. The station was established in 1892, and the present tower first shone in 1895, helping mariners follow the southern shore of the Upper Peninsula.
The approximately 78-foot tower is built of brick, painted white, and set on a substantial stone base. Arched windows and decorative supports beneath the gallery give the upper tower a distinctive profile. Beside it, the red-brick keeper’s dwelling brings the station down to a domestic scale: porches, steep rooflines, chimneys, and the rooms where lighthouse families lived.
By September 1895 the completed complex included a fog signal, boathouse, oil houses, docks, and other service buildings. A tramway helped move supplies from the water to the station. These supporting structures explain how much work took place beyond the lantern itself.
Automation arrived in 1972, ending the need for the same daily tending of the light. The Gulliver Historical Society later made preservation its central mission. Today, the restored dwelling, museum buildings, and tower visits help visitors understand both the navigational purpose of the point and the lives of the people who kept it running.
Visitor Information
- Getting there
- The station is at 905 S. Seul Choix Pointe Road, Gulliver, Michigan. Leave US-2 in the Gulliver area and follow local signs toward the point. The approach leads away from the highway through a quieter wooded landscape to the lighthouse grounds.
- Museums & tower
- The Gulliver Historical Society offers seasonal museum access and tower tours. Its published season generally runs from Memorial Day into autumn, with availability dependent on volunteer guides. Confirm the current day’s hours, admission, and tower access on the official visitor information page before making the drive.
- Explore the grounds
- Allow time for the station buildings, walking paths, and shoreline setting. Picnic tables and benches make it easy to pause between views. Follow posted boundaries and any temporary work-area closures.
- Photography
- The front paths give a clear view of the tower and dwelling together. Walk around the permitted grounds for the rear brickwork, smaller buildings, and tree-framed compositions. From the shoreline side, the lantern rises above the trees; keep the tower’s full height in mind when choosing a frame.
History and visitor references: Gulliver Historical Society, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Lighthouse Society.
Photo Gallery
Eight views of Seul Choix Point’s tower, buildings, and grounds. Select a photograph to view it larger.
Keep Exploring
Return to the Michigan directory →