| About Hiawatha National Forest |
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| Round Island Lighthouse |
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Reservation:
No
Season:
Year-round
From St. Ignace, MI, Private ferry service is available from Mackinac City and St. Ignace.
Location Information
The Round Island Lighthouse serves as a gateway to the historic past for visitors to Mackinac Island. It also serves as a reference point for many freighters and pleasure vessels since the shipping channel between Mackinac and Round Island is only 1,000 feet from the lighthouse.The lighthouse is located on a sand and cobblestone spit extending from Round Island into the narrow channel between Round Island and Mackinac Island. A brick outhouse and a small brick storage building are located next to the lighthouse. The lighthouse, which had living quarters for two families, was constructed in 1895. It was staffed continuously until 1924 when an automatic light was installed. The lighthouse was abandoned in 1947. In November 1958, the lighthouse was transferred to the Hiawatha National Forest. It was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on August 21, 1974. The island was given the status of a National Scenic Area on September 2, 1958 and is currently being proposed for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Round Island is located in the straits of Mackinac between Mackinac Island and Bois Blanc Island. It can be viewed by millions of people either ferrying between Mackinac Island and St. Ignace or driving the Mackinac Bridge spanning the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. The only access to the island is by private boat.
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