Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse

Hillsboro Inlet lighthouse is found near Pompano Beach, Florida. I first visited this lighthouse about 5 years ago with my granddaughter, Rachel. I found it to be a great lighthouse to photograph through the palm trees and I wrote a Squidoo page on the lighthouse. You can read it at Lighthouse Through the Palms
This year when we were staying in Jupiter, we took a drive down to Pompano Beach so that I could photograph the lighthouse again. I thought there might be a better angle to take the photographs, but I do believe the park across the inlet where I took my photos the first time is the best vantage point. Hillsboro lighthouse is a skeletal tower type of lighthouse with the bottom half being white and the top of the tower plus the lantern house being black. The lighthouse is 142 feet tall and was originally built in 1906-1907. It is a working lighthouse that is operated by the Coast Guard. It is only open to the public during tour dates. Here is another photo that I took from the park with my zoom lens. <

Frankfort Michigan Lighthouse

I visited the light in Frankfort, Michigan in the summer of 2012. It was a bright sunny day and the white and black lighthouse was located at the end of a long concrete pier. I enjoyed the long walk out to the lighthouse, which I found to be a bit different than other lights I had seen. When I got up close it seemed to be almost two structures that were stuck together. In researching a bit about the light I found out that the original light was lit in 1873 at the end of a long wooden pier. This light didn't last and in 1932 the present light was moved to the northern breakwater and placed on top of a two story metal structure. Now I understood the different look to the lighthouse. Here is a closeup photo of the light.

I really enjoy seeing the lights in Michigan. There are such a nice variety of different types of lighthouses. Here is a page I wrote about some of my favorite Michigan lighthouses. Lake Michigan Lighthouses

Ludington, Michigan Lighthouse

Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse can be found along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan in the state of Michigan. It is located in Stearns Park and I was able to visit it on a clear day in July. The park was fairly busy and a lot of people were enjoying the stroll down the long pier to reach the 57 foot tall steel plated lighthouse. I enjoyed the walk and was able to photograph the lighthouse at various angles.

The lighthouse which is at the end of the breakwater in Pere Marquette harbor was first lit in 1924. It was automated in 1972 and is still operational today. Lake Michigan Lighthouses

Ludington Pierhead Light Ornament by lighthouseenthusiast
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Duluth Minnesota Lighthouses

Duluth Harbor in Minnesota has three pier lighthouses. On a recent visit we stopped by the harbor to visit the lights and were delighted to find a newly renovated harbor area with easy access to all three lights.

Our first stop was the north breakwater light which was found adjacent to the parking lot for the area. The black and white conical light is found at the end of the 1700 foot pier. It was a beautiful fall day when we visited so my husband and I enjoyed our stroll down the pier to see this lighthouse. I was able to photograph the light from a variety of angles.

Our next light was just a short distance away on the other side of the canal. To reach it we crossed the lift bridge and proceeded down a second 1700 foot pier. This light is like a small house with a light tower jutting out of it. The bright red roof makes it easy to spot.

The third light in Duluth harbor is located on the south pier near the lift bridge. It is one of the framework type lights with the lantern on the top of the framework. After photographing the lights, we visited the Canal Park Maritime Museum which is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. It was an interesting museum with many displays on Great Lake shipping. It also had a small gift shop with items on the lights and shipping. Our visit to the Duluth harbor was a pleasant way to spend a lovely fall afternoon. Read more about my lighthouse visits at Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast or stop by my lighthouse gift shop at Lighthouse Enthusiast

Lighthouse in Michigan City Indiana

Michigan City Indiana has had three lighthouses over the years. The first was built in the 1830's and is no longer in existence. The lighthouse pictured here was built in 1858. It had one lighthouse keeper for 43 years from 1861 until 1904- Miss Harriet Colfax. This lighthouse now houses a museum on the lighthouses. The day we visited Michigan City the museum was closed so I had to be content with wandering around the perimeter of the house and taking photographs.

Not far from the old Michigan City lighthouse we found the east pierhead lighthouse. It can be accessed by walking down a 1500 foot elevated catwalk. The sun was beginning to set and I was able to shoot several different shots of the "East Pierhead Light".

Michigan City Indiana Lighthouse Refrigerator Magnet by lighthouseenthusiast
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Staying at a Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast

Lighthouses have always fascinated me and since my retirment 6 years ago, I have traveled to and photographed 60 lighthouses. The one thing I have always wanted to do is to stay all night in a lighthouse and this fall I got my chance. While looking for a place to stay for our Minnesota fall excursion, my husband found a lighthouse bed and breakfast that had an opening for one of the nights we would be in the area. We found Two Harbors lighthouse to be a delightful place to stay. It is a working lighthouse and has three guest bedrooms on the second floor.

We stayed in the Harbor room which had a window looking out on the harbor. When a large ship left the harbor just after midnight, I got out of bed and watched it from our window. What a great treat! Staying in the lighthouse enabled me to take photos at all times of day and night and I was really excited when I realized it was the full harvest moon while we were there and I was able to capture this photo of the lighthouse and the moon.

Then when the first rays of sunlight peaked over Lake Superior in the morning, I was again able to go outside and get some great shots.

If you would like to read more about my experience at Two Harbors please stop by my Squidoo page.Two Harbors Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast

Two Harbors Lighthouse.jpg Post Cards by lighthouseenthusiast

Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota

We took a fall trip to Minnesota to photograph the lighthouses and the fall foliage. I had heard that Split Rock on Lake Superior was a great lighthouse to photograph so I was really looking forward to seeing it. I got my first view when we stopped at a roadside viewing area about 1/2 mile from the lighthouse. I was amazed at the great view of the lighthouse from this distance. It was a cloudy day and the sky was grey but I was able to get this photo of the lighthouse with the pretty fall foliage in the foreground.

The next day was a brighter day so we headed out in the morning to the state park where the Split Rock Lighthouse is located. I wanted to get some more photos from the area near the shore and then I was planning on touring the lighthouse. I walked on several trails near the lighthouse looking for a perfect spot for a photo. I ended up taking over 100 shots, but I think the one below of the lighthouse framed in the fall leaves, is my favorite.

After finishing shooting from the shoreline, I took a tour of the lighthouse and lighthouse grounds. It is a fairly short lighthouse with only 32 steps to reach the top of the tower. The location high on the cliff is what gives the lighthouse a prominant position for warning ships from the coast. Here is my favorite photo taken up close to the lighthouse.

Minnesota Lighthouses Calendar by lighthouseenthusiast
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