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Structure, Port Huron, since 1825

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Still standing, photographed 2015

This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States..., 2015 Photo: Nuggehalli2015, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1825
Tall
85 ft
Standing
201 years

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse has stood on Omar and Garfield Street in Port Huron since 1825, 201 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, 2006 Photo: PaulG5372, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fort Gratiot Light Photo: Notorious4life (Uploads), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A panorama of Lighthouse Beach, Port Huron, Michigan, 2012 Photo: Matthew Gordon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse opened in 1825, when Michigan was still a young state of farms, mills and river landings.

It rises 85 feet.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Next time you are nearby, stop at Omar and Garfield Street and look up.

Fort Gratiot Light , the first lighthouse in the state of Michigan, was constructed north of Fort Gratiot in 1825 by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first U.S. Senators.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1825 Built
  2. 1976 Listed on the National Register July 30, 1976
  3. 2026 Today 201 years and still standing

Where it is

Omar and Garfield Street, Port Huron

On this map

  1. Fort Gratiot Lighthouse This place
  2. Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot 0.6 mi
  3. Fort Gratiot 0.8 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Around the block

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States..., 2015 Photo: Nuggehalli2015, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, 2006 Photo: PaulG5372, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Fort Gratiot Light Photo: Notorious4life (Uploads), public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. A panorama of Lighthouse Beach, Port Huron, Michigan, 2012 Photo: Matthew Gordon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron, Michigan, United States, is listed on the US National Register of Historic... Photo: United States Coast GuardThe original uploader was Asher196 at English Wikipedia., public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  6. The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron, Michigan, United States, is listed on the US National Register of Historic..., 1902 Photo: Detroit Photographic CompanyThe original uploader was Cbl62 at English Wikipedia., public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.