A trip to Ludington, Michigan, isn’t complete without visiting both of the area’s iconic lighthouses. Under 10 miles apart, Ludington North Breakwater Light and Big Sable Point Lighthouse offer two completely different experiences, yet together they tell the story of Michigan’s rich maritime history. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or extending your Pure Michigan...
If you’ve visited both Big Sable Point Lighthouse and Little Sable Point Lighthouse, you’ve probably noticed one of their biggest differences. Big Sable stands tall with its distinctive black-and-white spiral stripes, while Little Sable’s warm red brick exterior looks much simpler. It’s one of the questions we hear most often: Why are lighthouses painted different...
In December 2025, Lakeshore Keepers announced an ambitious $450,000 restoration project to preserve the brick exterior of the keepers’ quarters at the iconic Big Sable Point Lighthouse. As of April 2026, the organization is pleased to report that this significant financial milestone has been achieved, marking the successful completion of its largest capital campaign in...
A daily log was kept by every lighthouse keeper in the U.S. Lighthouse Service as a requirement of their duties. Items regularly documented would include the weather and tasks that were accomplished that day. Other items, such as ship sightings, help create a timeline if a ship goes missing or if a shipwreck is sighted,...
