A pale, narrow tower rises above the trees on St. Martin Island, while the red roof of the keeper’s dwelling appears through the foliage. From the water, the station feels tucked into the forest. Its tall steel frame belongs to a working landscape of reefs, island passages, and the shipping routes leading into Green Bay.
Quick Facts
| Location | St. Martin Island · Delta County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Northern Lake Michigan · entrance to Green Bay |
| First lit | 1905 |
| Tower height | 75 feet |
| Tower form | Hexagonal metal tower with an external steel framework |
| Historic optic | Fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Setting | Forested island shore with a separate keeper’s dwelling |
| Access | Offshore viewing; island closed to public access |
History & Description
St. Martin Island stands among the islands that divide northern Lake Michigan from Green Bay. Its surrounding reefs complicated the routes used by vessels serving Escanaba and other bay ports. A lighthouse was requested in 1891; construction began in 1903, and the station entered service in 1905.
The tower’s most distinctive feature is its external steel framework. Slender vertical members support a hexagonal metal enclosure, carrying the lantern well above the wooded shoreline. This exposed structure gives the lighthouse a very different character from the broad masonry towers found elsewhere on the lake.
A fourth-order Fresnel lens originally sent the light across the approaches. The separate keeper’s dwelling, visible through the trees in these photographs, recalls the staffed station that supported the beacon and fog signal. The weathered tower and red-roofed house remain a striking pair along the pale beach.
The island also has an important conservation role. Much of St. Martin Island became part of Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge in 2015, protecting forest, wetlands, and shoreline habitat used by migrating birds. The historic light station and the surrounding refuge landscape have distinct stewardship histories.
Visitor Information
- Public access
- St. Martin Island is closed to public access. Plan to appreciate the lighthouse from the water rather than land, hike, or enter the buildings. The refuge lists the closure for habitat and resource protection.
- Viewing from the water
- This is a remote Lake Michigan setting. Use an experienced captain familiar with the island passages, respect wildlife and any posted restrictions, and confirm the route and conditions before departure. A boat trip does not include permission to land.
- Photography
- A wider water-level view brings the lighthouse, keeper’s dwelling, beach, and forest into one frame. A longer lens can isolate the tower’s steel framework without approaching the shoreline or disturbing wildlife.
- Before you go
- Check Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge’s current access information and consult your captain about wind, waves, and visibility. There are no public visitor facilities or tower climbs here.
History and access references: U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse history and Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo Gallery
St. Martin Island Lighthouse and its wooded shoreline, photographed from the water. Select any photograph to view it larger.
Keep Exploring
Return to the Michigan directory →