Pine said other lighthouses have similar programs and information can be found on the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers website. The application and more information about the Tawas Point Lighthouse Keeper Program are available here. She said the volunteer lighthouse keepers make it possible to keep the lighthouse open all week. Pine said the DNR is aiming for teams of two to four adults.Īccording to Pine, there isn't enough money in DNR's budget for full-time lighthouse guides. The work involves light maintenance and guiding visitors.Īpplicants must be 18 or older and need to be able to climb the 85 step tower as a regular part of their daily tours. Mission Statement: Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park is a non-profit, voluntary Association established to assist the lighthouse and state park. 8, 1871, it burnt in the Great fire, coincidentally on the same day as the great fires in Chicago, Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin, and fires in Port Huron and Holland, both in Michigan. In exchange, the lighthouse keepers need to pay $75 and work for about 70 hours over two consecutive weeks. The first light here was illuminated on the south pier in 1870. The accomodations overlook the shores of Lake Huron and include two bedrooms, a modern kitchen, and shower and bath. Lighthouse keepers are given two weeks lodging in the second-story quarters of the historic lighthouse keeper's dwelling. And that's not something the general public gets the opportunity to do." The lighthouse is automated with a 1.8 million candlepower fresnel lens that can be seen more than 30 miles out to sea. "You can go up with your cup of coffee in the morning and watch the sunrise," said Pine. Pine said the Tawas Point Lighthouse tower rises about 65 feet above the ground and overlooks Tawas Bay. I visited the Tawas Point lighthouse in East Tawas, Michigan, with folks who signed up to be volunteer lighthouse keepers for a week and were there for. And to get the opportunity to live in one for two weeks," said Hillary Pine, the northern Lower Peninsula historian with the DNR and the Michigan History Center. The Tawas Point Lighthouse off the shores of Lake Huron is accepting applications for spring and summer through February 1, 2019. The tour guide up there, major Tom from Buffalo NY, kept things moving along and orderly.įritomann is happy now that we finally got to tour this very popular light station.If you are looking for an unusual summer vacation, think about applying to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as a temporary lighthouse keeper. There's not much room up there, we had to keep shifting around to share the best views. For more information or to receive an application to participate in the Tawas Point Lighthouse Keeper Program, contact the Tawas Point Lighthouse Museum Store at (989) 362-5658 or the Tawas Point State Park at (989) 362-5041. Young folks just sprint up the iron spiral stairs. Tawas Point State Park is located at 686 Tawas Beach Rd. It's very structured and we like that.īe sure and check their website for days and hours. There are a limited number of people permitted on each tour. Dinner consisted of bread, whole red potatoes, vegetables (mostly cabbage), and either steak tips (which I had) or fried perch (which my husband had). You get your receipt at the gift shop in a separate building, noting the time for your tour. Tours are scheduled and accompanied by volunteer keepers. There is so much to see here for your 5 bucks, and many people just climb the tower, get their passport stamped, maybe buy a souvenir at the very adequate gift shop, and move on. Interested Complete and submit the Tawas Point Lighthouse keeper application form before 11:59 p.m. Cost for the program is 250 per person per two-week stay. Accommodations include two comfortable bedrooms, a modern kitchen, shower and bath. Then you pay another small fee to tour the light and the house. Keepers stay in the dwelling attached to the lighthouse. Find out more at Tawas Point Lighthouse (Volunteer Keeper) From May to October each year, one of Michigan’s most recognizable Lake Huron beacons hosts a volunteer keeper program. We scheduled another lighthouse for this day also, Sturgeon Point, just 40 minutes north of here.īeing located on State Park land, you have to pay to park. Keepers sign up for tours of a week or two weeks, and have several responsibilities while staying at the lighthouse. Last year we were here but got flooded out of our plans. We drove down from Alpina, MI on a Saturday, July 16, 2022. Ask about the Lighthouse Keeper Program that allows registered volunteers to stay in the keepers cottage for up to two weeks while serving as lighthouse.
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