Alpena Light

Infobox_Lighthouse
name = Alpena Light

---

caption =
location = Alpena, Michigan
coordinates =coord|45|3|37.5|N|83|25|22.44|W
yearbuilt = 1914
yearlit = 1914
automated =
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Breakwater
construction = Cast iron [ [http://www.michiganlights.com/alpenalh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Alpena Pier Light.] ]
shape = four-legged pyramid skeleton tower
marking = Red Daymark with upper part enclosed
height = Tower - convert|34|ft|m [Database, cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm |author=Pepper, Terry|title="Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes"]
elevation = Focal plane - convert|42|ft|m
lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
currentlens = 250 mm Tidelands Signal acrylic optic [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/huron/alpena/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Alpena Breakwater Light.] "But see", claimed "190 mm plastic optic." [http://www.us-lighthouses.com/displaypage.php?LightID=203 U.S. Lighthouses, Alpena Light.] ]
intensity =
range = convert|12|mi|km
characteristic = Fl R 6 secs.
fogsignal = HORN: 1 blast ev 15s (2s bl). Operates May 1 to Oct. 20. [ [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).] ]
admiralty =
NGA =
ARLHS = USA-007
USCG = 7-11370.

Infobox nrhp
name = Alpena Light
nrhp_type =


caption =
location =
nearest_city =
lat_degrees =
lat_minutes =
lat_seconds =
lat_direction =
long_degrees =
long_minutes =
long_seconds =
long_direction =
area =
built = 1914
architect =
architecture =
added = March 29, 2006
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum =
mpsub = Light Stations of the United States MPS
governing_body = U.S. Coast GuardThe Alpena Light is a lighthouse on Lake Huron near Alpena, Michigan. Standing on the north breakwater of Alpena Harbor, the light marks the entrance to the Thunder Bay River from Thunder Bay. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/huron/alpena/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Alpena Breakwater Light.] ] The current lighthouse, built in 1914, replaced earlier wooden structures which had been in use since 1877 and 1888. [ [http://clarke.cmich.edu/lighthouses/lhtime1.htm Beacons in the Night: Michigan Lighthouse Chronology] , Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University] The current light is a weather-protected structure on a steel frame. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, and the state inventory list the same year. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/alpena.htm National Park Service, Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Michigan Lighthouses] ]

History and description

In August 1877, the first Alpena Light was established as a 25 foot tall "pole light" approximately ten miles off shore. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/alpena.htm National Park Service, Maritime Heritage Program, Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Michigan Lighthouses] ] A second light was built in 1888.

The current Alpena Light (1914), the third light of that name, is thought to be the only lighthouse of this type in the U.S. [ [http://www.alpenacvb.com/the-alpena-light-36/ Alpena County Tourist Bureau.] ] Originally painted black, its Daymark function was enhanced in 1950 by painting it bright red. [ [http://www.michiganlights.com/alpenalh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Alpena Pier Light.] ] The current lens was installed circa 1996. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/alpena.htm National Park Service, Maritime Heritage Project, Alpena Light.] ]

From 1878 to 1965 there were five Lighthouse keepers at this location. [ [http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/huron/alpena/keepers.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the LIght, List of Alpena kepers.] ]

The Alpena Light fog horn has gone through different iterations. In 1891, there was a fog bell with an automated striking mechanism, which was upgraded in 1920 to an electric alarm, and in 1932 to the current modern automated fog horn. [ [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/alpena.htm National Park Service, Maritime Heritage Project, Alpena Light.] ]

The Alpena Light onshore complex once included a brick oil storage building, built in 1896; it was removed after the light's electrification.

The current or 1914 Alpena Light is 34 feet tall; references in some sources to this light being 80 feet tall are factually incorrect. [ [http://www.alpenacvb.com/the-alpena-light-36/ Alpena County Tourist Bureau.] "See also" [http://www.michiganlights.com/alpenalh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Alpena Pier Light.] ]

The light today

The Alpena Light is is best viewed from the transient docks at the City of Alpena’s Marina. It has been variously called "Sputnik" [ [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp U.S. Coast Guard's complete list of Michigan lights, including Alpena Light.] ] and "Little Red" by locals, Others are dismissive, opining that it is "Long on duty, short on beauty." [ [http://www.alpenacvb.com/the-alpena-light-36/ Alpena County Tourist Bureau.] ] Another colorful local phrase is, "Don't kick the can." [ [http://www.thunderbay.noaa.gov/history/lighthouses.html#thunderbayriver Thunderbay National Marine Sanctuary, Alpena Harbor Light.] ]

The light marks the Alpena harbor of refuge and is located just east of downtown Alpena. Visitors are advised (as of 2008) to follow these directions, coming from downtown:

* southbound makes a right hand turn and head south along the lakeshore. That point is the intersection of Chisholm.
* Head east (toward the lake) onto East Chisholm Street and locate the marina parking lot. The marina provides a view of the light. A telephoto lens is advised for photography. [ [http://www.us-lighthouses.com/displaypage.php?LightID=203 U.S. Lighthouses, Alpena Light.] ]

A scaled down replica of this light was built at Lake Havasu, Arizona. [ [http://www.lh-lighthouseclub.org/lights_001_034.htm Photo of Lake Havasu replica.] ] See Lighthouses in the United States.

As of 2008, the Alpena Light is an active aid to navigation. [ [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).] ]

ee also

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Bibliography and further reading

* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/bibliography.html Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.]
* Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. "The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes." Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
* Oleszewski, Wes, "Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses", (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
* Penrod, John, "Lighthouses of Michigan", (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
*
* Wagner, John L., "Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective", (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
* [http://clarke.cmich.edu/lighthouses/index.htm Wagner, John L., Beacons Shining in the Night, Michigan Lighthouse Bibliography, Chronology, History, and Photographs, Clarke Historical Library, Central, Michigan University.]
* Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, "Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia" Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993

References

External links

* [http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080520/SPECIAL01/80519001 Detroit News, Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/HuronW.htm Interactive map, list, information for lighthouses in North and West Lake Huron.]
* [http://www.lighthousesrus.org/Maps/mapIt.htm?file=GL/HuronW.xml Interactive map of West Lake Huron, powered by Google.]
* [http://www.lighthousecentral.com/lighthouse_gallery.php4?lighthouse=Alpena%20Light Lighthouse Central, Alpena Light Photographs, History and Directions, "The Ultimate Guide to East Michigan Lighthouses" by Jerry Roach] (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - July 2006).] ISBN 0974797715; ISBN 9780974797717.
* [http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/miel.htm Lighthouse Digest, Alpena Light, University of North Carolina.]
* Michigan.gov website has [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/hal_mhc_shpo_lightmap_50933_7.pdf Map of Michigan Lighthouses.]
* [http://www.michiganlights.com/alpenalh.htm Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy, Alpena Pier Light.]
* [http://www.michiganlighthouse.org/lighthouse_detail.php.htm Michigan Lighthouse fund, Alpena Light.]
* National Park Service [http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/alpena.htm Maritime Heritage Project, Alpena Light.]
* [http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.060396,-83.422869&spn=0.001955,0.003369&t=h&z=18&om=1 Satelite view of Alpena Harbor lights by Google.]
* [http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/huron/alpena/index.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Alpena Breakwater Light.]
* U.S. Coast Guard's [http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHMI.asp complete list of Michigan lights, including Alpena Light.]
* [http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pubs/LightLists/V7COMPLETE.PDF Volume 7, US Coast Guard Lightlist (PDF).]
* [http://www.us-lighthouses.com/displaypage.php?LightID=203 U.S. Lighthouses, Alpena Light.]
* [http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Huron/alpenalight.htm Wobser, David, Alpena Light at boatnerd.com,]