Baraga, Michigan
Hundreds of lighthouses, like the Sand Point or Baraga Lighthouse, dot the landscape throughout the Great Lakes Region. These lighthouses became vital to protecting the shores, later integrating into the towns that they served. As we drove down the Keweenaw Peninsula towards the rest of the Upper Peninsula, we decided to make a quick stop at this lighthouse in the small town of Baraga.
The Sand Point Light was a brick lighthouse built in 1878 for the sheltered, yet out-of-the-way Baraga harbor. The harbor became much less out of the way with a new railroad built to the harbor to assist with shipping iron ore. This lighthouse served the Baraga community for many years before being decommissioned. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community now owns the lighthouse.
The lighthouse is picturesque, as are many lights in the Great Lakes area. This light, if properly managed, could easily become a tourist attraction in the town. For us, it was a welcome opportunity to take a few minutes on the shore of Lake Superior to enjoy a break from driving and soak up some of the afternoon sun.
A traveler could easily drive for weeks around the Great Lakes, visiting lighthouse after lighthouse while exploring the communities that they served. My advice is to go take in a few. With hundreds of lighthouses to see, you might luck into a bit of solitude on the lake like we did in Baraga.
