Fairport Harbor Ohio

First View of Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse

We were taking a trip out east and on the way I wanted to stop at a few lighthouses along the way.  The first stop was for the Fairport Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse and we followed the directions that led us to a park along Lake Erie.  The lighthouse was not visible from the park, so I took a trail that led through the dunes and was rewarded with the beautiful sight of the lighthouse as seen in the photo above.  It is a square building with the light tower along the far side.  The lighthouse was constructed in 1925 and is currently undergoing a major makeover.

The photo below is one I took from the beach. I like the way the driftwood in the foreground leads your eye up to the lighthouse.

Here is another view of the lighthouse taken from the other side.  We got to it by driving to the little town of Fairport Harbor where the original lighthouse sits.

Below you see the original lighthouse in Fairport Harbor.
It was first put into use in 1825 and was used until the lighthouse
above was  put into use in 1925.

Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light Card
by lighthouseenthusiast

Two Harbors-A Lighthouse B&B

Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast at Two Harbors

Staying in a Lighthouse is a Unique Experience

I have always enjoyed lighthouses and have photographed over 50 lighthouses in the past 6 years, but this was my first time to actually spend the night in a lighthouse. I was so excited for the experience and didn't know quite what to expect. I was in for a delightful time and I loved staying in a lighthouse for the night.

It is hard to say what I liked best. I really enjoyed the access to the lighthouse and tower at all times of the night and day. The views of the harbor in the middle of the night were fantastic and I loved being able to get photographs at sunrise and sunset. It was a full moon the night we stayed at Two Harbors, Minnesota lighthouse so I had the added experience of capturing the moon and lighthouse in a photo together. The fun of sharing a bed and breakfast and meeting new people was also great. There were three couples staying in the lighthouse and one in the skiff house on the property. We all met in the dining area in the evening for snacks and again for a delicious Scandinavian breakfast in the morning.

For me the lighthouse B&B was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone who loves lighthouses.

all photos by author-mbgphoto

Lighthouse View from the Shore - autumn at Two Harbors

The colors were at their peak when we visited Two Harbors lighthouse on September 30, 2012.

Inside the Bed and Breakfast

The Dining Room - guests eat in the dining room

The comfortable dining room had a welcoming atmosphere.

Parlor Room

Parlor Room

Scandinavian Breakfast- Great Fruit Soup and Pumpkin Bread

Scandinavian Breakfast- Great Fruit Soup and Pumpkin Bread

Harbor Bedroom - three guest bedrooms in lighthouse

The lighthouse has three guest bedrooms on the second floor. There is one bathroom that is shared by the three rooms. In addition the lighthouse has a Skiff House on the property that is now used for an additional guest room. It has a large room with private bathroom facilities and a Jacuzzi tub.

We stayed in the Harbor room that is pictured above. It was a comfortable room that had a great view of the harbor.

Entertainment at the Lighthouse

Watching the Ships enter the Harbor - a fun pastime

Two Harbors lighthouse is situated in Agate bay where you can watch ships of iron ore come and go. These shipping operations first began in 1884 when the first iron shipment was loaded for shipment from Agate bay. While we were visiting a large ship came into the harbor at about 6 pm. and left just after midnight. It was fun to watch the ship come in from the pier and then when it left I watched it from our bedroom window.

Climbing the Lighthouse Tower

a fun experience

I always love to climb a lighthouse tower and see the view from on top. Usually I visit a lighthouse and get one trip to the top to see the view, but while staying at the lighthouse B&B I had the opportunity to climb the tower anytime I wanted day or night. Since we were already staying on the second floor the climb to the tower was only two short flights of stairs to the lantern house. I ended up climbing to the top on 4 different occassions, one time late at night when it was a bit spooky since I was all alone. It was fantastic though to view the harbor at night. The harbor was all lit up and you could see the sweeping lights from the lantern along the shore. The photo in this section is taken through the portholes at the top of the lighthouse during my afternoon climb up the tower.

The lantern gallery is only 43feet 6 inches high but when you add that to the location of the light along the shore, it sits 78 feet above the water.

The lighthouse at Agate Bay near Two Harbors was authorized by US Congress in 1886 and was first lit in March of 1892. It was built on a rocky area on the east side of the bay. They had to blast nearly 600 tons of rock out of the bedrock to form the fountation of the lighthouse. The lighthouse and the keepers house were connected and yet they were two separate structures. There is a very thick wall where the two structures come together, which protected the keepers family from a fire or explosion.

facts for this lens come from a pamphlet by Lake County Historical Society

Walking along the Miles of Trails along the Lake Superior Shore

I woke up early to catch the sunrise on my camera and then enjoyed a 2 mile trek along the shores of Lake Superior. The hiking was great and the views were wonderful. This poster shows several of the photos I took while hiking the trails.

Deer Seen during my Hike

Deer Seen during my Hike

Visiting Pierhead Lighthouse

two lighthouses at Two Harbors

At the end of a L shaped pier you find the second lighthouse at Two Harbors. This lighthouse was built in the 1940's and is 25 feet high. It has an octagonal lantern house and sits on steel legs that let the waves splash beneath it. I walked out to the lighthouse in the early evening to watch a large iron ore ship that was just coming into the bay. It seemed to be a popular place for people to come out to watch the ships.

The Lighthouse Grounds

Assistant Keepers House

lighthouse grounds attractions

The grounds of Two Harbors lighthouse contains several additional attractions. The assistant keepers house has been restored with original furnishings from the late 1800's and future plans are to turn it into a rental cottage for the B&B. The old Skiff House, which was once a power house, is currently being used as a rental for the B&B.

The fog signal building has been turned into a nice gift shop for the lighthouses. It has a wide variety of items depicting the lighthouses and the area. I purchased post cards, a lighthouse apron and a lighthouse sweatshirt while I was there.

At the edge of the ground is the Frontenac Pilot House. This pilot house, which was once part of a ship, is now used as exhibit space for the lighthouse and shipping museum. I toured the house and found the exhibits to be interesting. You also have a great view of Lake Superior through the windows of the pilot house.

Life in the late 1800's - furnishings in assistant keepers house

Lighthouse in Holland Michigan

"Big Red" Holland Lighthouse

Holland Michigan

Big Red lighthouse is a very unique lighthouse. It is set apart from other lighthouses by it's bright "fire engine" red color and it's distinctive Dutch archictecture. I was delighted to see this unusual lighthouse on my visit to Holland, Michigan.

On this page I will showcase some of the photographs I took of "Big Red" and provide information to some of the attractions available in Holland, Michigan.

photos by Mary Beth Granger

Big Red in the Fall - Holland, Michigans' Lighthouse

I was able to photograph Big Red in October when the leaves were beginning to turn colors. This photo was taken from the sand dunes in Holland Park across from the lighthouse.

Holland Lighthouse

Holland has much to Offer

Wonderful Dutch Theme

Our visit to the lighthouse was the culmination of a great visit to a very interesting town. Holland, Michigan has a lot to offer the visitor. Although we visited in the fall, I am told it has a great tulip festival each May with over 6 million tulips in bloom.

The town also boasts a 240 foot windmill that was brought from the Netherlands. It can be seen on Windmill Isand. There is a Dutch Village Theme Park that has lots of great shops with products from the Netherlands. We were able to watch wooden shoes being made and even to try on some of the finished product. It was great fun to try to walk in wooden shoes!

There was some wonderful pottery from the only Delft factory outside of Holland. I had visited the factory in Delft, Holland so I was curious to see what the American factory was like. Although much smaller, it did have many of the same pieces.

Another view of the Lighthouse. - wonderful dutch architecture

The first lighthouse in Holland was constructed in 1872. The current lighthouse, shown in this photo, was errected in 1934. It is covered with metal plates to protect it from the weather and waves.

Closeup Photo of Big Red

This photo was taken from the edge of the pier in the park across from the lighthouse.

Big Red from the Pier

Here are some Zazzle gifts made from my photographs.

Big Red Lighthouse Keepsake Boxes by lighthouseenthusiast
Shop for another keepsake box

Big Red Lighthouse Classic White Coffee Mug by lighthouseenthusiast
View other coffee cups online at zazzle.com

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse-Michigan

Sturgeon Point lighthouse is located on Michigan's east coast about 5 miles north of Harrisville on the banks of Lake Huron.  The 70 foot tower and keepers house was built in November of 1870.

Today the keepers house is a maritime museum and the lighthouse is maintained by the US Coast Guard.  The museum and tower are open to visitors during the summer months, but the grounds are open to the public year round.

We visited this lighthouse in June of 2015.  We were able to park in a lot just a short distance from the lighthouse and I wandered the grounds taking photos from various angles.

There is a rock jetty that juts out into the water in front of the lighthouse and I found it a good place to get some clear shots of the lighthouse.  The photo above shows the lighthouse as taken from that point.

The keepers house has a bright red entrance door and red window trim and shutters.  They make an interesting contrast against the white tower and house.

Do you have a bathroom with a lighthouse decor?  This great bathmat from Zazzle will add to your theme.

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse Bath Mats by lighthouseenthusiast
Browse for another Bath Mat at Zazzle

Michigan has  many wonderful lighthouses to visit and photograph.  This book will give you a guide to many of them.

Click here to View on Amazon

Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse

Point Aux Barques lighthouse is located on the shores of Lake Huron at the tip of Michigan's thumb.  The lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes.  The first lighthouse on the spot was operating in 1848 but didn't last very long due to bad construction.  The current tower was completed in 1857 and it is still in operation today guiding boaters and commercial traffic.  The tower is 89 feet tall.

The first lighthouse keeper, Paul Shook, drowned in 1849 and his wife took over the operation of the lighthouse.  She is said to be the first female lighthouse keeper on the Great Lakes.  The brochure on the lighthouse states that her salary was $350 per year.

Today the lighthouse grounds, a museum, and gift shop are operated by the Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse Society.  When we visited, there was no one else around so I had plenty of space to explore and photograph the lighthouse from various angles.  The photo above was taken from a platform going out on the lake at the campgrounds that adjoined the lighthouse grounds.  Below are several other shots I took of the lighthouse.

Here is an ornament made from one of my photos of the lighthouse.

Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse Double-Sided Ceramic Round Christmas Ornament by lighthouseenthusiast
View more Pointe aux barques lighthouse Ornaments at zazzle.com

I love finding interesting place to visit in the "Off the Beaten Track" series of books.  Here is one on Michigan.

Click here to view on Amazon

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Oldest Lighthouse on the Great Lakes

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan.  It was first put into service in 1829 and still operates today to guide  ships in the area through the rapids at the head of the St. Clair River.

There was originally a lighthouse built in the area in 1825 but it soon collapsed due to poor construction.

The current lighthouse stands 86 feet tall.  It has a green flashing light that was installed in 1933 that can be seen from as far away as 17 miles.

Photographing Lighthouses

When I visit a lighthouse I like to photograph it from all different vantage points.  Before  my visit I look for photos that other photographers have taken of the lighthouse.  One book that is particularly helpful for Great Lakes Lighthouses is by Richard F. Edington.  He gives directions to the lighthouses and then several ideas of how best to photograph each lighthouse.  For the Fort Gratiot lighthouse I was  able to follow his advice and photographed from several different perspectives.  The first in the photo above is a shot I took while on the grounds of the lighthouse.

The next shot in the photo below was taken from across the river on the Canadian side of the river.

It is one of my favorite photos of the lighthouse.  I took it in the morning when I was able to get the reflection of the lighthouse on the river.

The next photo shows the lighthouse from the west side/street side.  I took this photo through the fence.

Next, I walked out on the beach just north of the light to take these two photos.

Here are some of my photographs on a Zazzle poster.

Fort Gratiot Light Station by lighthouseenthusiast
View more Fort gratiot lighthouse Posters at zazzle.com

Lighthouse Coloring books are a great way to introduce children to lighthouses.  Here is one I found on the Great Lakes.  My granddaughters love to color these lighthouses.

Click here to order on Amazon