Au Sable Light
Au Sable Light Station
|
|
 |
|
| Location | Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°40′23″N 86°08′21.6″W / 46.67306°N 86.139333°WCoordinates: 46°40′23″N 86°08′21.6″W / 46.67306°N 86.139333°W |
| Year first constructed | 1874 |
| Year first lit | 1874 |
| Automated | 1958 |
| Foundation | Wood pilings |
| Construction | Brick, Italianate bracketing |
| Tower shape | Frustum of a cone |
| Markings / pattern | White with black lantern |
| Height | Tower – 87 feet (27 m) |
| Focal height | Focal plane – 107 feet (33 m) |
| Original lens | Third-order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | 12-inch (300 mm) acrylic |
| Range | 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) |
| Characteristic | Flashing white every 6 s |
| ARLHS number | USA-022 |
| USCG number |
7-14565 |
|
Au Sable Light Station
|
|
| Nearest city | Grand Marais, Michigan |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Architect | Col. Orlando M. Poe |
| Architectural style | Italianate bracketing |
| NRHP Reference # | 78000374 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1978 |
| Designated MSHS | September 21, 1976 |
7-14565
Au Sable Light is an active lighthouse in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore west of Grand Marais, Michigan off H-58. Until 1910, this aid to navigation was called "Big Sable Light" (not to be confused with Big Sable Point Light near Ludington, Michigan on Lake Michigan or Little Sable Point Light south of Pentwater, Michigan).
The Au Sable Light Station was built in 1874 on Au Sable Point, a well known hazard on Lake Superior's "shipwreck coast". The Au Sable Point reef is a shallow ridge of sandstone that in places is only 6 feet (1.8 m) below the surface and extends nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) into Lake Superior. The Au Sable Point reef was one of the greatest dangers facing ships coasting along the south shore of Lake Superior during the early shipping days when keeping land in sight was the main navigational method. The Au Sable Point reef was known as a "ship trap" that ensnared many ships, including the passenger ship Lady Elgin which was stranded there in 1859.
The shoreline in this area is considered one of North America's most beautiful, "but in the 1800s it was considered one of the most deadly because of unpredictable features below the surface and violent storms and blinding fogs above." The reef extends nearly a mile out as a ridge of sandstone a few feet below the surface. The shallow water caught many a vessel following the shore. Turbulence was common when the lake was "pushed in by violent storms out of the north and northwest." Thick fogs resulted form the mix of frigid lake air and warmth from the sand dunes. "As early as 1622, French explorers called the region 'most dangerous when there is any storms'."
Additionally, the location was chosen to eliminate a "dark spot" in the 80 miles (130 km) stretch between Granite Island Light and Whitefish Point Light.
...
Wikipedia