Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse

My husband and I collect them. As postcards and miniatures, even those that we have not witnessed the beauty of with our own eyes, as photos and milestones. Our house is replete with replicas of lighthouses and boats. We jokingly attribute this nautical fascination to both of us being born under water sign. There's something very romantic about these coastal beacons : they have survived the ravages of time and some of them still stand vigil on the remote shorelines and what better place to go looking for them than on Great Lakes :)

This one facing Lake Huron in Mackinac City, Michigan was built in 1892 to guide ships through the Straits of Mackinac. In 1957, the Mackinac Bridge was completed (can you spot it in this pic!!!), rendering the light station useless. The families of the station keeper moved out and the buildings stood vacant till restoration efforts made it accessible to public.

41 comments:

GMG said...

Sorry, I took another weekend on the beach in Algarve and was too lazy to carry a laptop to post or comment... Anyhow, I glad I came back on time to be the first on the Lighthouse, and still to enjoy the fantastic twilight...
Great!

photowannabe said...

I'm glad they decided to rescue this stately lighthouse. its lovely.

Cris said...

Look at that red roof, gorgeous! Love brick houses. Nice hobby you have, we collect shotglasses.

laurel said...

Yes, the red roof is gorgeous!

I always imagine lighthouses to be haunted for some reason. I'm just a scaredy-cat.

Annie said...

It's a fine monument, Moi, one worthy of display at your house or mine.

I've been there and want to return, taking that drive around the lake through Wisconsin and Michigan.

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Looks kind of an unique lighthouse.

Zeekat said...

a nice one it is

Nikon said...

We have 21 lighthouses & the ruins of 6 more here in Rhode Island ("The Ocean State").
Most have been automated, which is a real shame.
Your photo is beautiful - so sharp - the detail is fabulous.

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

GMG : It's nice to have you back....and don't worry too much about being on time, as long as u keep coming back :)))

Photowannabe: It's beautiful...I wanted to stay back till sunset to watch it in its splendor but we left for Mackinac Island, the same afternoon and missed the sight.

Cris : So do I :) and if we ever meet, i know what to present you with :)

Laurel : The pics I have seen of those in Maine give me the haunted feeling : I love them, nevertheless :)

Annie: Isn't the place beautiful....and it gets better as u go further higher :)

Chad : it's Tudor style building is what we were told.

Zeekat : Glad that u liked it :)

Nikon : We are coming there next :)

Anonymous said...

An excellent capture of this awesome coastal beacon! Beautiful ode to an old faithful!

Nazzareno said...

A magical place, wet from a splendid light.....

RUTH said...

Good to hear of the renovation. I have an assortment of nautical ornaments in my bathroom including one small lighthouse.

Nikon said...

Really, wow you really are serious about your hobby.
Here is a link:
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/ri.htm

Anonymous said...

Nice to see that building and bridge again.

My wife, Patty, and I have been married for 52 years today. Imagine that.
52 married years

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi Moi,
Have missed you with photogarphy updates, so this photo is also 'a story on its own' which I like very much, Good tht they opened it now for the public, are you gonna visit it soon?

That reminds me, from middle next week I'll be leaving also for the summer-holiday, so when you do not hear from me... middle august I'll might be back, Hopefully we get some MORE sun there /France than here in Holland!

Greeting from JoAnn

Anonymous said...

Great shot.

inspired said...

i think the older buildings have more character to what some modern box houses have :o]

Anonymous said...

Interesting and solid architecture for this lighthouse. Nice place. The bridge, in the background seems to be beautiful too!

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi Moi,
I've "tagged" your blog , look under my header, so people might visit your blog through my blog. (OOPS!) Now you 'have ' also to name 8 facts about yourself in the next post (You don't have too!)

Greetings from JoAnn

mrsnesbitt said...

Awesome photographs, love the cat! But then.....it was a cat! LOL

Denisex

Yoda said...

You and your husband collect miniature lighthouses? LOL!! Maybe you two were lighthouse keepers in a past life?

The place does look kinda abandoned to me, but I guess that's what adds to the charm ...

Lori said...

I love your lighthouse photo. It's too bad that so many of them aren't used any more. It would be an interesting job to be a lighthouse keeper!

bluemountainmama said...

i also love lighthouses.....they are almost haunting, in a way, especially shrouded by fog.

this one is pretty stately and looks to be in good shape still. i like the framing of it in your shot......

hope your weekend is wonderful.....

Jen said...

I've always loved lighthouses too!!

shnaggy said...

wow...awesome! reminds me of the movie " your's, mine and ours".

and what a lovely twilight down there moi.

and those shoes are for the salvation army i guess...

ToOothlEss WOndeR! said...

light houses - i had one right next to my house in kerala..
this one reminds me of those wonder years when i'd spend whole evenings looking at the circling beam of light..
I wonder if that light house is still standing.. will check when i go home next.
thanks!

Anna said...

I am a sucker for a lighthouse. What is it about them? I like this shot a lot!

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Moi,
Thanks for noticing the good pic of my cell phone ;)

Unknown said...

Yoohh...it reminded me my first trip to New England region..:)
That red roof is calling me...very nice composition, liked the sharpness!
n yeah, you both are lucky souls then; what would be the best place other than Florida when you have a such a great passion for water world...:)

Unknown said...

This is beautiful. Most of the light houses I've seen are white. This is a great change. I do see the bridge in the background and like it a lot. I would like to see a full view of it.

Ash said...

I just LOVE it!

Sh'shank said...

I just can get enough of the last two photos...
Fantastic
are you on flickr?

suramya said...

what a sight for sore eyes, its lovely seeing the world through ur eyes moi :)

Z said...

You know, I think there's an old lighthouse in Maine which has been converted and one can overnight there. Am I mistaken? I'll have to do some Googling...

I like lighthouses myself, though not as passionately as the two of you, apparently.

JAM said...

Looks to be unanimous, everybody loves lighthouses. Many were built so sturdy because of weather conditions, but they have lasted, and with care, are still there for us to enjoy.

They're like those 150 year old turtles, how can you not like them?

I like the lighthouse with the bridge in the background.

Sarad said...

the color of the sun shade makes it look like there is no sunshade at all for those windows, except for its tapering.the way the way the flag is fluttering is also funny. the bright black cabin on top of the light house looks lovely.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

H Moi, Honestly I visited you blog every day, but saw this (beautiful) photo since wednesday.
Want you to know that I like your blog and comments.

Nathalie H.D. said...

All right, so I'm another lover of lighthouses. There are very few in Australia, but plenty in France where I come from.

2lrbl said...

A very nicely taken pic, beautiful in its simplicity ... and yet it is not easy to take such a photograph....

Cris said...

You collect shotglasses too??? Oh I have to send you some from here!

Perpetual Procrastinator said...

If you like, feel free to pop an email over to the one linked in my blog account and I'll gladly send you some lighthouse postcards... :)