The station, officially called the South Haven South Pierhead Light, was first lit in 1873. The lighthouse tower was originally made out of wood but was replaced with a metal tower in 1903 due to the harsh weather. It is still an operational lighthouse, and the beacon can be seen anywhere from 11 to 15 miles depending on weather conditions.
Other than the red color, one of my favorite parts of the South Haven Lighthouse was the catwalk. The catwalk is original and one of only four surviving catwalks in Michigan. It was a windy and foggy day, so we had to be careful, but it was nice to be able to get so close to the lighthouse with beautiful views of Lake Michigan on both sides.
Catch up on our Lake Michigan Circle Tour Road Trip:
