• Wednesday-What'sUP January 27 - 02:33 pm

Halfway between Marquette and Portage Entry in the Keweenaw, sits Big Bay Point Lighthouse. It has been renovated and turned into a Bed and Breakfast, like a number of other U.P. Lighthouses. Brenda Leigh recently had the pleasure of staying there and brought back some photos from around the property, so we all can get a feel of the place for ourselves. She said that she climbed the circular steps of the tower in the second photo so many times, she lost count. The third photo tells the story (a picture is worth a thousand words) of why she went up and down so many times... that's quite a view.

The last two photos go together. That's a privy on the lighthouse grounds, along with the sign that's hanging on the outside near the door. Brenda said she was disappointed that it came out blurred, but it's clear enough to inform you how this privy was cleaned out each day. I sure wouldn't have wanted THAT assignment, but then again... it's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

Better than breaking off stalagmites with a broom handle! I remember seeing the gun emplacements on the bluff overlooking the lake near the lighthouse used for antiaircraft practice in the early 1950's. At the time hearing the term "ammo dump" and wondering what was wrong with the ammo that it had to be "dumped".

The photos of the lighthouse and area are great-than again I just love lighthouses--this one reminds me a little bit of Two Harbors lighthouse in Minnesota. Did you see any "ghost"? (Ha,Ha)

Wow! I have been to this lighthouse in the summer and it's fabulous, but what a beautiful scene in the snow. I also love lighthouses and this one is definitely a beauty! Great photos!

Wonderful, I was just reading about Big Bay
in a really nice Fred Rydholm book about Upper Michigan. The history is very rich in the U.P.
Things you would never expect have happened.
Just outside of Big Bay are the Huron Mts. and it really sounds like a pristine area. I've never been there and it's on the list for this coming summer.

never been there but sure does look nice and will have to stop by there sometime

Wes, have you read SUPERIOR HEARTLAND: A BACKWOODS HISTORY IN FOUR PARTS, Vol. I (Books I & II), by Fren Rydholm, the best history of the middle of the Upper Peninsula I have ever read. Fred just passed away in the last year or so and was a familiar site in Marquette area for many years.

I enjoy lighthouses. Thanx 4 sharing.

Superior pictures of a Superior lighthouse!

Thanks for the photos! Have been there a few times but never inside. Would love to walk those steps and hang out with the view from the top for a day or maybe lunch. One quick observation, "looking up".. the 2nd photo, it looks like a different brick was used starting just above the window. Wonder why?

I just bought Superior Heartland from their website and really looking forward to it this months reading. The Huron Moutain history really is appealing to me. The people that have been there and Marquette in the early days really is impressive. I'm very excited to return next summer to Marquette and then visit Big Bay for the first time. And of course the lighthouse.
I just saw Granot Loma on the Travel Channel again it's its still very impressive. What makes the UP rich is it's heritage and history. Not just the Iron Ore.

I grew up in Marquette and we had a camp in Big Bay on Lake Superior by the Big Bay Harbor. The lighthouse was vacant for many years so my friend Al Peterson and myself would ride our dirt bikes around the grounds, just exploring and having fun back in the early 70's. It was always a cool place to go. Big Bay is a very historic town with Henry Ford's Mill with it's tall smokestack right on Lake Independence. Lot's of great memories! I think the privy photo reminds me of the saying: "She's built like a brick s**thouse." !!!

Anybody take any of those roads out of Big Bay
into the Hurons? The AAA road or others?
How far can you go before you hit the Huron Mt. Club gate?

Wes, The triple AAA road is a good one to run. It will take you over to Skanee. It is a nice trip.
If you do it in the summer it is a great place to pick blueberries as well. Not sure on the road into the Huron Mtn. Club. Also the 510 is a beauty as well. It will take you back towards Marquette and you come out west of Marquette. A neat covered bridge toward the end spans the Dead River Basin.

Mary says: Stay tuned to next week sometime...we'll be featuring some photos from the 510 that Brenda is talking about, along with a photo of the bridge she mentioned. :->

Wonderful! I saw a old picture of that covered bridge in a book, it's still there! Dead River is where Marquette got it's electricity from a water generator in the early days I also read.
I do have a SUV and I ready that the AAA road
can be rough. Thanks for the info. Does anybody know if those beautiful cabins I've seen pictures of in books still survive at the Huron Mountain Club? What amazing history. The Bently
cabin at the mouth of the Pine River looks to be really incredible. That can't possibly be still there can it? Can you take a boat ride to the Huron Light House and visit?