• Tuesday-What'sUP May 25 - 01:27 am

Lake Superior is known for its cold waters, rocky shores and treacherous submerged islands. These reefs are visible only with the help of navigational aides such as radar and of course, lighthouses. Stannard Rock, located 23 miles southeast of Manitou Island at the tip of the Keweenaw, is a lighthouse accessible only by boat and one such aide strategically placed to keep boats and ships from ending up on the mile long reef it marks. As boating season is getting underway, my Hubby and I are already planning our first trip for the year, to Isle Royale. So that reminded me of these aerial shots from Neil Harri. So many of us look at lighthouses as romantic and beautiful, forgetting that they have a more important purpose. If you've traveled the span of water to the Island yourself, you know what a good feeling it is to see one of several lights that guide your way. No one wants to end up with a fate like that of the City of St. Joseph, located near Eagle Harbor. If you have a high-speed connection and would like to see this shipwreck in more detail, check out this full size shot. The third photo is the America Shipwreck, located near the Rock of Ages Lighthouse at Isle Royale. Lighthouses….pretty, yet practical! :->

Great shots...Thanks...and Top `o the mornin to ya.

beautiful shots...,
captain video, the proper response is "and the rest of the day to you, sir"

The lighthouse love in me would like to ask, consider a week donated to lighthouse pics? Beautiful shots!

Stannard Rock Light has quite an interesting and tragic history. http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/superior/stannards/stannards.htm

Have always wanted to see it, and maybe one day i'll get to take the charter out there!

Thanks for the full sized shot of the wreck too -great detail!

Incredible!

Mornin', what is amazing is the clearness of the lake so one might see some "signts" if you will. Thanks for the pictures. I'm not sure how big the lighthouse is--does someone stay there at all or is it just the light, tended by someone?

The picture gives me a good chance to remind everyone that the Marquette Maritime Museum is open for the Summer and Stannard's Rock's 2nd order Fresnel lense is there on its pedestal and clockworks in a mock up of the watch room and lantern room for every one to get a close up look at this magnificent jewel. Marquette Lighthouse is also open for tours and a $48,000 renovation will begin soon. The transfer of the Coast Guard Station to the City is in progress amd will become an other fine park.

Margaret,
The light hasn't been manned for over 40 years! It was a tough assignment to be sure!

The photos of the shipwrecks are eerie!

What incredible pictures. How interesting! I'm a true lighthouse addict, so I would vote for a week of lighthouse pics in a flash (no pun intended!)

Back in 1997 Lucas Lanczy (16 at that time) from L'anse caught a 61 Lb.8 oz. Lake Trout off Stannard Rock .If you stop at the Hilltop Restaurant on U.S.41 in L'anse you can see this stuffed monster.

Walter,
Is that the fish there was so much controversy about? There was one where some folks were contending that it was actually caught in Canadian waters.

Good Morning to all! Anybody have any discussion
about the lighthouses off the Portage Canal (both entrys) today? That would be very interesting.

Great pictures, Neil, and thanks for the history, julie b. I agree with Margaret, Amarillo TX: the clearness of the water of Superior is spectacular.

Further information that I have garnered for an upcoming book on former U.P. shipping ports.

STANNARDVILLE
This “village” was located at Sand Point and was established in 1877 to house government workers to design and build a crib and beacon light at Stannard Rock. It took five years to build and rebuild because of storms wrecking the cribs attached to the reef. The structure of granite was cut and assembled at this area then dismantled and set up on the reef. The circular base on which the beacon was modeled was still visible as late as 1970 at this once former townsite.

Just had a fascinating time scrolling back and forth over the full-sized version of the City of St. Joseph wreck picture. Which way is north? To the right?

I checked the full size shot, what fantastic detail! Where was the picture of the City of St. Joseph taken? Interesting rock formation the ship rests on,eh?

For more information about the City of St. Joseph Shipwreck, try this link: Shipwrecks of Lake Superior

Wow, what amazing shots. the lake is so clear, and the detail is amazing on the close up shots. How deep is the water there? Thanks so much to all who take the lovely pictures we see everyday and make those of us who must live downstate and elsewhere homesick. Well, just 2 months and 2 weeks and I will be up there.

Good morning. I just returned from the Jacobsville (South Entry) lighthouse area. I was there 12 days and the fog horn was going off 24/7. Tells you a little about the weather we had!! I am fortunate to have a cottage near the old lighthouse and the present one. Check out this site for info on the one that is sometimes called The Portage River Light.
www.jacobsvillelighthouse.com
I am fortunate to have spent many many days in this lighthouse as my granparents bought it from the government back in 1958!! What fun memories. My parents recently sold the property and it is now a B&B! Take a look!

If you want to check the current weather at Stannard Rock, click: National Data Buoy Center

A history of the light can be found here: Seeing the Light

ed/mi: I enjoyed reading your life with the Edmund Fitzgerald! Found it very interesting as I like those big lakers!

These are really great pictures AND a neat way for us to see something that we might not ever be able to otherwise. Thanks.

This site is great for those of us that were raised on Lake Superior. We had a cottage and spent many days walking the lake picking agates. I still have a monster agate that I use as a door stop here at my house in Libby, MT.

Seeing the pictures of the ship wreck's reminds me of just how quickly storms can come on there. Loved to watch the storms from the picture windows and swim (wave surf) when the lightning wasn't hitting.

Carol Ann (Langley) Peltier
Libby, Montana

How about an sky shot of centenial heights? We never see any.

TO STICKS OUT WEST; Your grandfather must have been Ray Joint, a good friend of our family. My father did a lot of work for him. I have been in the old lighthouse and the cottage farther in on the shore. Do you still have the same cottage? I can't quite remember all the family names but is Larry your father?

Hi Phil...from Manton. You have it,my grandparents were Ray and Sylvia Joynt. My parents are Helen and Larry. We still have the cottage down the road, my husband and I own it. Great spot!! Lots of fun memories up there and now our kids and their cousins are carrying on where we left off! I'll be heading back in a few weeks.

This site just continues to be my absolute favorite. What AMAZING shots of the history of Superior. Just breath taking. This adds to my home sickness. Thanks for the shots.

Great photos,I just skimmed the site Thad refered us to ,See the light, what a great site. Added it to my favorites to check out when I have more time.

If you're ever in Munising, there's a glass-bottom boat shipwreck tour that's quite interesting. Clear cold water preserves the wrecks perfectly.

Incidentally, I used to sign myself "Kathy from Whitmore Lake/Cheboygan" but I just moved.

I have a bedroom set given to me by my grandparents, Charlie and Lucy Boggio. The set was made in Calumet by Gately and Wiggins Co. The recieved the set for a wedding present in 1937. I was wondering if anyone had any information about this company. I am looking to get the set appraised and need as much information as I can get. Please give me an e-mail if you have any information...Thank You

I consider the marking of our waterways and highway systems as wonders of civilization! It's human error that causes goofs. At the Whitefish Point museum I learned that 2 captains decided to say hello to each other and ended up ramming their ships and sinking both. Another captain goofed and forgot the difference between red and green and starboard and port, went to the wrong side of the buoy, rammed an oncoming vessel and both sank.

Julie B. This fish was checked out by the DNR,they took scale sample's to check it's age.The Lanczy family were fishing with Fisher Price Charter Service of Chassell.This fish is now stuffed and on display at the Hilltop Restaurant in L'anse.It's areal monster 48 inch's long and with a girth of 36 inch's.

I meet an Oscar Wiggens. Was he part of the above mentioned Wiggens group/family?

Thanks for the info Julie. I do miss the water.

Woow, great shots!

For a good website of lighthouse photos, see http://www.ipl.org/div/light/. The photographers started with all the Great Lakes Lighthouses, and are slowly traveling their way around the world and posting the photos on this site.

Thanks Walter!
It must have been a different fish i was thinking of! In that case there was a contention that it was caught farther out than Stannard Rock.

Julie,
It was the same fish, all kinds of rumors were flying about that fish. They were spotted somewhere else, they launched from Eagle Harbor, etc.....etc.... you know fishermen/women-they are known for their ability to stretch the truth.

I was born in Hancock, and lived in Houghton. This coming August, I will be fortunate enough to spend 11 days in the Keweenaw with my wife and 7 year old son. We will visit Jacobsville.