Manistee’s North Pierhead Lighthouse | Lake Michigan Destinations
Manistee's North Pierhead Lighthouse
Lighthouse History & Facts
First built in 1869, it burned in the Great Fire and a new one was constructed in 1872. The North Pierhead Lighthouse is built from cast iron and stands 39 feet tall.
Many changes have taken place over the years–including a wooden catwalk that was eventually replaced by an iron one around 1900. Many Michigan lighthouses demolished their catwalks when the lights became electrified, so Manistee’s catwalk is a rare sight. In the late 1920s, after extensive pier renovations, the old fog signal building was replaced by the present structure.
Standing watch over Lake Michigan waters, the North Pierhead Lighthouse welcomes boaters into its harbor, and is a reminder of Manistee’s great maritime history.
Directions to the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse
From Highway 31 in Manistee, take Memorial Drive, the first street north of the Manistee River, west towards Lake Michigan. Memorial Drive will become 5th Avenue. Take 5th Avenue to John Red Szymarek Park at the corner of 5th and Monroe. Turn right and follow Monroe to a traffic circle whose center piece is a lighthouse. Go 3/4 of the way around the circle and turn right on Lakeshore Drive. You can either park in the 5th Avenue beach parking lot or continue on a bit and possibly park near the Coast Guard Station, from there you can walk the breakwater to reach the Manistee Lighthouse.
Northwest Michigan Lighthouses
From Ludington north to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, there are a dozen lighthouses to visit!
Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse
photo by Todd and Brad Reed Photography
View Lighthouses in Northwest Michigan
- North Breakwater Light, Ludington
- Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington State Park
- North Pierhead Lighthouse, Manistee
- Portage Lake North Pierhead, Onekama
- North Breakwater Light, Frankfort
- Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort
- Robert H. Manning Memorial Light, Empire
- South Manitou Island Lighthouse, Glen Arbor Township
- North Manitou Shoal Light Station, Leland Township
- South Fox Island Lighthouse, Northport
- Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Northport
- Mission Point Lighthouse, Traverse City
Travel Northwest Michigan
More Lighthouses Around Lake Michigan
Little Traverse Lighthouse
The Little Traverse Lighthouse, also called the Harbor Springs Lighthouse or Harbor Point Lighthouse, was first lit in 1884.
Little Sable Point Lighthouse
Little Sable Point Lighthouse is a 107′ brick structure, constructed in 1874. It’s one of the tallest lighthouses in Michigan.
Big Sable Point Lighthouse
The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is a black-and-white striped, 112 foot lighthouse in the Ludington State Park.
White River Light Station
Built in 1875, the White River Light Station is located in Whitehall, Michigan, and situated between Lake Michigan and White Lake.
McGulpin Point Lighthouse
First lit in 1869, the McGulpin Point Lighthouse was a pivotal navigational tool for ships on Lake Michigan.
Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse
The Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse is one of only 6 in Wisconsin where a fifth-order Fresnel lens is still in use.