August 7, 2023
You can’t knock it down. This whole thing is about preserving the lighthouses. Preserving history.
Paul Hughes, a public affairs officer in Boston, on the auctioning off of an historic Michigan lighthouse.
The Big Picture: A historic Michigan lighthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been put up for auction by the U.S. General Services Administration. At about 1,000 square feet and reaching about 68 feet tall, the lighthouse is located in a remote part of the state's Upper Peninsula.
The lighthouse opened in 1919. According to the Detroit Free Press, is also a "working navigation aide maintained by the Coast Guard, marking the southern end of the Portage River in Houghton County."
The lighthouse could go from $10,000 to $1 million and the proceeds typically go to the Coast Guard.
Important to Note: Due to its historic preservation restrictions, alterations such as paint, renovation and use of the lighthouse could be limited.
Did You Know? Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state – around 129. Due to the size of the Great Lakes, lighthouses line the shores to guide boats and ships.
by Jenna Lee,
