The entire contents of this internet document are Copyright 2003 by the Ottawa Beach Historic Committee.
Website designed, written and constructed by Dan Aument
A National Register Historic Site since 1995 - A State of Michigan Historic Site since 2002
Lighthouse History - First stage of Lighthouse Development 1872 to 1901-02
Original wooden tower 1872 - 1901/1902
Free standing steel tower 1901/1902 - 1907
Steel tower with fog signal building 1907 - 1936
Beacon tower added to fog signal 1936
The first lighthouse tower was constructed on the south pier head in 1872 after the U.S. Congress, with influence from Michigan’s Senator Ferry, appropriated $4,000. The long and tedious process of improvements to Holland Harbor , started in 1847 by Dr. Albertus Van Raalte, was finally complete.
Below the ten-sided glassed in lantern room was a small lamp workroom, where the lamps, fuel and accessories necessary for maintaining the light were stored. Here the lamps were cleaned, refueled, serviced and stored when not in service.
The light was about 30 feet above lake level. An 1892 newspaper article mentions that “the lighthouse...maintains a fifth order harbor light.” No earlier records exist which describe the light or its magnification device. The lighthouse tower structure was accessed by an elevated wooden catwalk which ran the length of the pier which extended straight out into Lake Michigan.
Drawing copyright 2002 by Dan Aument
A rare photo of the 1872 lighthouse.
