Charlevoix South Pier Light

Charlevoix South Pier Light. The Charlevoix South Pier Light is a lighthouse located in Charlevoix, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan, near the Charlevoix Harbor. It was built in 1948 by the United States Lighthouse Service and United States Coast Guard, with the help of engineers from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The light is situated near the Charlevoix South Pier, which is a popular spot for fishing and boating, and is close to the Charlevoix Maritime Museum.

● History

The Charlevoix South Pier Light was built to replace the old Charlevoix Light, which was established in 1885 and guided mariners through the Pine River Channel into Charlevoix Harbor. The new light was constructed using a skeletal tower design, which was a common style for lighthouses built during this period, as seen in the St. Joseph North Pier Light and the Grand Haven South Pierhead Light. The light was automated from the start, using a Fresnel lens and a DCB-24 aero beacon, similar to those used in the St. Augustine Light and the Cape Hatteras Light. The Charlevoix South Pier Light has been an important aid to navigation for ships and boats traveling through the Great Lakes, including those from the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.

● Location

The Charlevoix South Pier Light is located in Charlevoix, Michigan, on the shores of Lake Michigan, near the Charlevoix Harbor and the Pine River Channel. The light is situated on the south pier of the Charlevoix Harbor, which is a popular spot for fishing and boating, and is close to the Charlevoix Maritime Museum and the Charlevoix Historical Society Museum. The area is also home to the Charlevoix County courthouse and the Charlevoix Public Library, and is near the Little Traverse Bay and the Beaver Island. The light is accessible by car via US-31 and M-66, and is also visible from the Charlevoix South Pier, which is a popular spot for tourists and photographers, including those from the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution.

● Architecture

The Charlevoix South Pier Light is a square pyramidal tower made of steel and concrete, with a white and red color scheme. The light stands at a height of 42 feet (13 meters) above the water level, and has a focal plane of 48 feet (15 meters) above the water level. The light is equipped with a Fresnel lens and a DCB-24 aero beacon, which produces a red light that is visible for 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers). The light's design is similar to that of the St. Joseph North Pier Light and the Grand Haven South Pierhead Light, and is an example of the skeletal tower style of lighthouse architecture, which was popularized by engineers from the United States Lighthouse Service and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, including Orlando Metcalfe Poe and George Meade.

● Operation

The Charlevoix South Pier Light is an automated lighthouse, which means that it is operated remotely by the United States Coast Guard using a computerized system. The light is equipped with a Fresnel lens and a DCB-24 aero beacon, which produces a red light that is visible for 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers). The light is also equipped with a fog signal, which is activated during periods of low visibility. The Charlevoix South Pier Light is an important aid to navigation for ships and boats traveling through the Great Lakes, including those from the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, and is also used by pilots from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

● Preservation

The Charlevoix South Pier Light is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Michigan State Historic Site. The light is maintained by the United States Coast Guard and the Charlevoix Historical Society, which works to preserve the light and its surrounding area. The Charlevoix South Pier Light is also a popular spot for tourists and photographers, and is often featured in publications and exhibitions by the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution. The light has been recognized by the American Lighthouse Council and the United States Lighthouse Society for its historical and architectural significance, and is also an important part of the Charlevoix Maritime Museum and the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail, which includes other notable lighthouses such as the Mackinac Island Light and the Sault Ste. Marie Light.