During the 19th century, booming settlements around the Great Lakes effected a great increase in Great Lakes shipping. Increased ship traffic created the need for a lighthouse to guide ships through the Straits of Mackinac, connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. By 1890, a fog signal building had been constructed on the site of the former Fort Michilimackinac, a British fort that had been dismantled and moved to nearby Mackinac Island in 1781.
The Old Mackinac Point Light Station was first lit in 1892. It served ships under four different lighthouse keepers and, like many lighthouses, had minor upgrades over the years to implement new technologies such as electric motors and radio signals. The lighthouse ended its service in 1957 with the completion of the well-lit Mackinac Bridge (seen in the background of this video).
Today, the lighthouse still stands at the foot of the bridge. Visitors can see the preserved lighthouse much as it was in the early 1900s and learn about the area’s history.
Amy Lauren is an acoustic piano composer and soloist. She describes her music, often composed as lullabies, as relaxing, healing, and beautifully melodic.