|
Go to:
|
|
Copper Harbor Lighthouse
 The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is located
within Fort Wilkins Historic State Park at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The lighthouse
complex includes the 1848 keeper's dwelling, the 1866 lighthouse and privy, a 1933 steel
tower that houses the modern lighting apparatus, and an outdoor interpretive trail. The
sketch also shows the location of the 1848
light tower which no longer exists.
|
The 1848 lightkeeper's dwelling serves as an orientation center for the
site. Exhibits in the dwelling show why the light tower was built, how the lights
worked, who maintained the light, and the overall context of the site. The exhibits
feature five general themes:
|
The 1866 lighthouse features exhibits that recreate the lives of keepers and their
families during the early 20th century. Visitors can see period rooms including a kitchen,
a parlor, an office, and a service (oil) room on the first floor and a bedroom and a trunk
room on the second floor. The lantern room is not open to the public.
|
See a view of the front of the 1866 lighthouse.
A "virtual visit" interactive computer
program is presented in the 1848 lightkeeper's dwelling for visitors who what
more detailed information about the site and for anyone who cannot visit the
lighthouse or walk on the trails.
|
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources restored both the
lighthouse and the lightkeeper's dwelling and collaborated with the Michigan
Historical Center in installing the exhibits and upgrading the interpretive pathways.
The Michigan
History Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following for
their support of these Michigan Historical Museum exhibits:
- Michigan Department of Environmental, Quality Land & Water Management Division,
Coastal Management Program
- Mead Corporation Foundation
|
