Seeing the Light

I may live smack dab in the heart of the Midwest, but I am fortunate to reside on the west side of the Mitten State; the nearest shoreline is only 30 minutes away. I’m a city girl if there ever was one, but there’s just something about being on the water that gets to my core. And where there are treacherous shores, reefs and shoals, there are lighthouses.

What is it about these towers that I find so intriguing? Part of the attraction stems from the craggy coastlines and sandy beaches over which the beacons loom; lighthouses are found in the most scenic locales. They also illuminate the fog and darkness of maritime history and the solitary life of a lightkeeper. And the architectural detail is amazing. Each structure is unique and incorporates distinctive design elements.

Did you know that Lake Michigan is the third-largest of the Great Lakes in surface area, and the only one entirely within the United States? Bordered by Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin, more lighthouses dot its 1,600-mile shoreline than any other Great Lake. At one time there were as many as 247 in Michigan, but less than half now remain.

Last October Mark and I coupled a business meeting in Wisconsin with a hasty four-day Lake Michigan circle tour. Driving north from Muskegon we followed the water’s edge, crossed the Mighty Mac, traversed the Upper Peninsula, traveled down through Milwaukee and Chicago, and looped back into Lower Michigan. While we were able to photograph, visit and even (harrowingly) climb many of the lighthouses which grace this Great Lake, we didn’t come close to scratching the surface of seeing all it has to offer. It would take weeks to properly circumvent its waters and give the structures the attention they deserve. But it’s really not necessary to do it all at once, is it? What better place to start than in my own backyard?

After I raced against the clock to make it to the bank and the post office before 5:00 p.m., I headed west for home. The soundtrack of The Jersey Boys was reverberating through my car (yes, it remains my favorite a year later) and there was still about 45 minutes of daylight left. I decided to keep driving.

I suppose I should learn to travel with a map at the ready, but I fortunately have an innate sense of direction. (Okay, I’ll admit it … those well-placed signs helped, too!) I can’t remember the last time I visited Holland State Park, but I know it wasn’t on a dusky February evening. Nonetheless, I had no trouble finding it at the end of Ottawa Beach Road.

I suppose I should also learn to travel with hiking boots on standby for I once again found myself attempting to navigate the winter landscape in cowboy boots (I feel another lecture from my shoemaker coming on; will I ever learn?). As I slip-slided over the boardwalk, I saw what I was looking for. The Holland Harbor Lighthouse blazed like a red beacon over the frozen, snow-covered dunes. I chatted with another photographer on the hillcrest (great minds think alike!) and fired off a dozen or three shots before retreating to the toastiness of my car.

This one was an impromptu trip, but it won’t be the last you’ll see of Lake Michigan lighthouses from my perspective. Next time, with a bit of advanced planning, I’ll be prepared to invest more time and memory card to these coastal beauties. Stay tuned!