Sunday, September 13, 2009

Upper Peninsula Upventure: Escanaba's Sand Point Lighthouse

One of two lighthouses with that name on Michigan's Upper Peninsula--the other is in Baraga--the Escanaba's Sand Point Lighthouse became operational in 1868, a few months after the death of its appointed keeper, John Terry. His wife, Mary, took the reins, becoming one of the nation's first female lighthouse keepers. Terry suffered a tragic death, dying in a fire in 1886--speculation is that a burglar set the lighthouse ablaze to cover up the evidence of his crime.

Sand Point was decommissioned in 1939, it's now a museum.

Mystery and intrigue of course are part of the allure of lighthouses, as is hope--a beacon shining in the darkness.

This is my final lighthouse entry. I'm going to take a few days off from this series, then I'll come back with a look at the U.P.'s mining legacy.

Earlier posts:

Manistique East Breakwater Light
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Wawatam Lighthouse
Whitefish Point Light
The Munising Front Range Light
Grand Island East Harbor Lighthouse
Copper Harbor Lighthouse
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse

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