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Muskegon Breakwater Light

Coordinates: 43°13′26.5375″N 86°20′48.5452″W / 43.224038194°N 86.346818111°W / 43.224038194; -86.346818111
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Muskegon Breakwater Light
Muskegon Breakwater Lighthouse
Map
LocationMuskegon, Michigan
Coordinates43°13′26.5375″N 86°20′48.5452″W / 43.224038194°N 86.346818111°W / 43.224038194; -86.346818111[1]
Tower
Constructed1930
Foundationsquare steel equipment room
Constructionsteel
Height53 feet (16 m)
Shapesquare pyramidal
Markingsred
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place Edit this on Wikidata
Fog signalHorn: 2 blasts ev 20s[1]
Light
First lit1930
Focal height70 feet (21 m)[2]
Range8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi)[1]
Characteristicred light, 3s on, 3s off
Muskegon South Breakwater Light
ArchitectOffice of Engineer, 12th Dist.; U.S. Lighthouse Establishment
MPSLight Stations of the United States MPS
NRHP reference No.06001026[3]
Added to NRHPNovember 15, 2006

The Muskegon Breakwater Light or South Breakwater Light is a light located on the end of the south arm of the Muskegon breakwater surrounding the mouth of the Muskegon channel in Muskegon, Michigan.

The site is accessible by walking the breakwater. As of Summer, 2015, the light is available to the public for tours.

History

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The first lighthouse located in Muskegon was constructed in 1851 atop a wooden tower on land. In 1871, a steel tower was constructed at the end of the breakwater and the main light was rebuilt.[4] In 1928, a new caisson was placed at the end of the south breakwater to support a new light. In 1929 the superstructure for this light was constructed, and it was lit the next year. New navigational equipment was added in 1939.[5]

In 2008 the light became available for transfer under NHLPA, and in June 2010 ownership was transferred to the Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy. The lights and buoys of Muskegon Harbor are maintained by the US Coast Guard Station housed in the lighthouse 3/8 of a mile away, at the mouth of the Muskegon Channel. The light has been in service since 1879.[5]

Description

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The Muskegon Breakwater Light is a square pyramidal steel tower mounted on a square steel equipment room. The entire structure is painted red.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Light List, Volume VII, Great Lakes (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2010. p. 174.
  2. ^ a b Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Michigan's Western Lower Peninsula". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  3. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Michigan". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Listed under "Muskegon South Breakwater Light".
  5. ^ a b Jeff Shook, A History of the Muskegon Lighthouses, Muskegon Lighthouse Conservancy
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