Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Courtesy of Visit Keweenaw; Rock of Ages by Paul Brown
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have announced that two historic Michigan lighthouses will make progress on long-term preservation efforts with the help of $106,000 in Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) grants from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The lighthouses receiving grants are the Rock of Ages Lighthouse and the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, both located in the U.P.
“The historic lighthouses lining our freshwater shoreline — the longest in the world — are part of the splendor of Pure Michigan,” says Governor Whitmer. “I am proud that we are making an investment today to preserve these structures, reminding us of our past and encouraging us to move towards the light.”
The Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society will receive a $46,000 grant to rehab the 132-foot-tall Rock of Ages Lighthouse by cleaning and painting the exterior.
The Keweenaw County Historical Society will receive $60,000 to rehabilitate the tower of the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, including replacing deteriorated brick and repairing damaged plaster on the tower interior. Funding for this program comes solely from the sale of specialty Save Our Lights license plates available from the Michigan Secretary of State. To date, the Michigan SHPO has awarded nearly $2.9 million in matching funds to help rehabilitate and preserve lighthouses for tourists and residents alike to explore and appreciate.
