EAST TAWAS – In order for restorations to be performed on the historic structure, the Tawas Point Lighthouse was closed during the 2023 season. With the upgrades having been completed this past fall, the 136-year-old lighthouse is now ready to once again welcome visitors.
The public is invited to a grand re-opening ceremony on Thursday, May 2, which is being put on by the Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Michigan History Center.
Along with the historical importance of the structure itself, there is some significance surrounding the aptly chosen date for the occasion, as well. DNR representatives have noted that it was also on May 2 – in 1877 – when the lighthouse officially opened for the first day of navigation, to help guide mariners and alert ship crews of any potential hazards around Tawas Bay in Lake Huron.
More than 13 decades have passed since then and, most recently, organizers of the upcoming celebratory event have been preparing to showcase the structure’s latest refurbishments.
An opening ceremony at 11 a.m. will kick off the occasion next Thursday, after which a variety of activities will be hosted on the lighthouse lawn, until 4 p.m.
This will include food trucks; live music; booths set up by such participants as the Tawas Bay Art Gallery, Heritage Coast Sailing and Rowing and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary; opportunities to peruse the items in the adjacent Gift Shop; special exhibits/displays – and, of course, tours of the recently revamped lighthouse, which will be offered free of charge, starting at noon.
The structure is situated in Tawas Point State Park, located at 686 Tawas Beach Rd. in East Tawas. The grand re-opening is free to attend but, as a reminder, a Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry to the park grounds.
As previously reported in this publication, the lighthouse restoration was made possible by federal COVID-19 relief funding, in the form of a $455,000 grant via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Utilizing construction documents prepared by WTA Architects of Saginaw, the work began in early 2023. Mihm Enterprises, Inc., based in Hamilton, was chosen to carry out the project. The DNR has pointed out that between these two entities, there are five Governor’s Awards for Historic Preservation and five Michigan Historic Preservation Network Building Awards. Additionally, the work at Tawas Point marked Mihm Enterprise’s 23rd lighthouse restoration project.
The undertaking entailed a focus on enhancing the durability and safety of the lighthouse, and helping to prevent the future degradation of same, as moisture and ventilation issues had been accelerating the deterioration of the lantern room, gallery and brick tower shaft.
The goal was to also give the lighthouse’s appearance a more historically accurate look.
To correct the structural concerns, the project included removing the cement coating known as parge, which had previously covered the 67-foot-tall brick tower but began failing, thus damaging the original brick. Once the exterior was repaired and patched, it was treated to a lime-based whitewash, from top to bottom.
Based on a paint color analysis, and reflecting the look of the lighthouse circa 1895, representatives have also noted that the work includes new interior colors in the lantern room and gallery, plus some new windows to improve air flow.
“After many years we are so excited to see the tower of Tawas Point Lighthouse return to the gleaming white beacon it was meant to be,” said Laurie Perkins, a Michigan History Center site historian for Tawas Point Lighthouse. “The crowning glory of the restoration project is the lantern room where the 1891 fourth order Fresnel Lens still resides. As work progressed on the tower, an exciting color palette dating to the turn of the 20th century reappeared, adding even more to the historical authenticity of the lighthouse.”
A standout fixture nestled along the Lake Huron shoreline, the lighthouse is a prominent landmark of the community. Following the sneak peek guests can experience on May 2, the lighthouse will officially open to the public on Wednesday, May 8. For a cost of $5, it will be open for tours Wednesday through Monday, from noon to 5 p.m., until Oct. 20.
Further, the Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park will conduct tours by donation every Tuesday, from noon to 4 p.m., beginning June 4 and continuing through Aug. 27.
According to the DNR, a total of $250 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding was made available to the department to address a decades-long backlog of repair and maintenance needs in Michigan’s state parks system, and build a new state park in Flint.
An additional $2.64 million in ARPA upgrades is proposed for Tawas Point State Park, including stabilizing the Lake Huron shoreline, upgrading parking lot and roads and modernizing the campground electrical system.
To follow the status of ARPA-funded projects and learn about the funding and decision-making, go to Michigan.gov/StateParksProgress. Those who visit the site will be able to find FAQs, a photo gallery and an interactive map identifying the locations and details of various proposed projects.
For more information about the lighthouse, visit Michigan.gov/TawasLighthouse. To learn about the nonprofit Friends organization, follow their Facebook page or check out their website at tawaslighthousefriends.com.
“We are grateful for the hard work and immense care that the Friends of Tawas Point Lighthouse and State Park consistently dedicate to this historic site,” said Micah Jordan, Tawas Point State Park supervisor. “As volunteers, they share their time, energy and passion with this site. We appreciate the continued partnership with the friends group and their work for the reopening celebration.”
