The Muskegon South Pier Lighthouse is located in the inner
harbor at Muskegon, MI. This conical bright red steel tower was built in 1903
and stands 48 feet high.
The first lighthouse at Muskegon was built in 1851 on land
at the south side of the Muskegon River’s mouth. (Location approx to lighthouse on right in picture.) It was a one and a half story rubble stone dwelling
with a wooden tower atop the dwelling. The tower stood 26 feet above ground and
its light was provided by a series of lamps and reflectors.
In 1856, a sixth-order Fresnel lens replaced the lamps and reflectors.
That original lighthouse was torn down and a new
wooden dwelling built in 1871 with a square tower atop the dwelling. The lantern room of the new lighthouse was equipped with a fourth-order lens. It served as
navigational aid from atop the dwelling until 1903 when it was removed and
installed in the circular red metal tower pictured above.
Men served as keepers at Muskegon until 1862. Jemima Monroe was the only woman to serve as keeper at the lighthouse. She was made keeper after her keeper husband
died in 1862. She served as keeper for nine years while raising two children until her resignation in
1871.
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