Climb to the top of Michigan’s Oldest Lighthouse: Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
There is more to the Port Huron Museum’s Fort Gratiot Lighthouse than just the lighthouse. Port Huron Museum in Port Huron, Michigan, is a cluster of museums. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is just one of several, including the Carnegie Center, the Thomas Edison Depot Museum, and the Huron Lightship. For a complete list and more information, check their website.
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Museum Grounds
The grounds at Fort Gratiot Lighthouse include a gift shop, the lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper’s duplex, the building that holds the warning horn, and the newly acquired hospital. From the ground outside, the lighthouse didn’t seem all that tall. Yes, it is tall, but not really THAT tall—perspective matters, as we soon found out.
Registering for a Tour
When you park in the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse parking lot, enter the large white building closest to the road. Here, you will sign up and pay for the tour. This building also holds the gift shop, full of wonderful Michigan-themed and Fort Gratiot-themed items.
If you walk around the grounds without signing up for the tour, note that the buildings are locked. You can wander the grounds and walk out to the beach, but you cannot enter the buildings without a tour guide. The tour guide unlocks each building as you go along with your group.
War of 1812 Era Hospital Building
The first building on the tour is the hospital. This hospital was originally from the fort built during the War of 1812. Once the fort was closed, the building was sold, turned into two houses, and moved to separate locations. The Port Huron Museum purchased each half of the building and reunited them on a single foundation. The museum restored the two buildings back into one.There wasn’t much inside this building when we toured the fort. The hospital is under construction, but you can walk through and look at photos, some antique surgical equipment, and examples of building construction at the time the hospital was built.
Signal House
The next stop was a small brick building that housed the warning horn for the lighthouse. There were examples of older-style lights that have been used through the years. Our tour guide discussed all the different stages that lights have gone through inside lighthouses since the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built.
Lightkeeper’s House Duplex
We exited that building and walked to the lighthouse keeper’s duplex. During one period, there were two lighthouse keepers and their families living on-site at the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. They shared a building, but each had their own home for their family. One of the duplexes was renovated to restore it to its original state. I was in awe of all the beautiful details, from the woodwork to the window closures, and completely forgot to take photos. You will have to go on a tour to see the impressive workmanship.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse
From the duplex, the tour guide took us to the lighthouse. He shared many details about the construction and the improvements in the lighthouse over the years, from strengthening the walls to making it taller, etc. He had a lot of information to share, and we were grateful to have such a knowledgeable guide. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was built in 1929! This is Michigan’s oldest lighthouse. It’s still standing and still in operation.
We entered the lighthouse through the very thick outer wall, which created a bit of an alcove. We walked through the alcove and entered the inner cylinder of the lighthouse tower. A tall, metal spiral staircase filled the inside of the tower. Looking up, it seemed to go on forever.
Perspective is Everything
We slowly climbed the metal spiral staircase up to the top of the lighthouse. Round and round, we went—almost 100 steps to the top. Once you get up, you will climb up onto a tiny landing and head out the door to the balcony that surrounds the top. The higher we rose, the slightly less comfortable we felt. Yes, the climb was a little taxing, but it was the sensation of being so far off the ground that was unsettling. That “not-so-tall lighthouse” suddenly felt quite a bit taller.
The Views from the Lighthouse
As we stepped out the door onto the balcony, the misty wind struck us right in the face. The winds on the door side of the lighthouse were quite strong, but the opposite side was calm and pleasant. The Views up here were incredible and well worth the climb. We watched a ship come up the St. Clair River and head out into Lake Huron while we were up there. Our guide made some comments about the ship. Once again, his knowledge was impressive.
It was a little unsettling to be up so high. This height that didn’t look so high from the ground had a different feel from this perspective. It was time to head back down the winding circle of steps. The walk down the stairs was a little slower than the walk up. There is something that feels less stable about going down a steep slope, steps, or a ladder than going up. We took our time and got safely back down on the ground. Our tour guide was very patient and kind.
Adventure Awaits
Sometimes, we learn new things about ourselves when we stretch a bit and get outside of our comfort zone to try new things. We may have a slight fear of heights, but we went up those steps, out the door, and back down the steps. Slowly and carefully, but we did it. Just know if you are wondering if you dare to climb to the top of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, you are not alone. And those of you who see that lighthouse and think, “That’s not so tall,” and then find yourself uncomfortable at the top are also not alone. For the more adventurous souls, The Port Huron Museum has a December holiday lights event that includes a candlelit climb to the top of the lighthouse. It sounds both beautiful and terrifying. Check out the events on their website for reservations.
The tour ended outside the door of the lighthouse. Our tour guide was OUTSTANDING. His name is Mike, and I hope you get the privilege to meet him when you go on your tour.
There is one more building on the grounds that the museum has not yet begun to renovate. The old coastguard station. With all that they have done, are currently working on, and plan to do in the future, it will be worth it to keep going back to see how things progress. If the new exhibits turn out as well as the lighthouse keeper’s house, they will be well worth future visits.
Make sure to check out the outstanding coffee shops in the area and grab a bit to eat at the Retro-styled Nicky D’s Burgerz. You can add this to your day trip itinerary when you visit Port Huron.
The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is one of our inspirations for our 2024 Travel Plans. We hope you continue to follow along with us as we keep exploring the Great State of Michigan