Historic
Downtown

Mackinac Island
State Park

Colonial
Michilimackinac

Old Mackinac
Point Lighthouse

Historic Mill Creek
Discovery Park

Plan Your Visit

Discover Mackinac History

Home » Discover Mackinac History » Museum Exhibits

Lighthouse keeper atop of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse tower.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Interpretation

Mackinac State Historic Parks uses a blend of interpretive styles to educate and entertain Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse visitors. Visitor experience and site interpretation is fullfilled through public access to original historic structures (even a climb to the top of the light tower), living history programs which include visitor participation, guided tours, period settings, discovery centers with interactive technological exhibits, artifact vitrines, and interpretive panels. All of these methods provide an enriching experience for the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse visitor.

Click on Admission Rates & Hours and Daily Event Schedule to get more information.

Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Tower.

Tower Tour

A costumed interpreter leads you up the 50 foot spiral staircase to the lantern room of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse Tower. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Mackinac Straits with unique photographic perspectives of the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island. As you take in the spectacular view the interpreter will share some of the lighthouse's history and will answer your questions.

View from the watch room's east porthole.

Tower Tour - Watch Room

If you can climb the 51 steps of the tower's spiral staircase, but don't want to climb the 11 rung vertical ladder through a narrow access opening to the lantern room, you will reach the tower's watch room and have a dramatic view of the Mackinac Straits and Mackinaw City from four portholes.

Winter view of the Mackinac Bridge and one of the first freighters of the season navigating the Mackinac Strait.

Tower Tour - Lantern Room

Once you reach the lantern room you will stand where the original Fresnel lens once rotated and you will be able to look at a breathtaking view of the Mackinac Straits. Unfortunately a winter view such as this one is not possible since the site is closed in the winter.

Tower tour access video on the first floor of the lighthouse for visitors that choose not to climb.

Tower Tour Access Video

If you choose not to climb to the top of the tower, you can see the experience through an access video on the first floor of the lighthouse.

Interpreter in early twentieth-century uniform ready to answer questions.

Costumed Interpreters Circa 1910.

Costumed interpreters are on hand to share history of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and guide small groups to the top of the lighthouse tower. The lightkeeper is posing in one of the new period settings at the lighthouse.

Original Fresnel lens of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.

Fresnel Lens

On the first floor of the lighthouse you will be able to see the original fourth- order Fresnel lens of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. The lens is lighted but does not turn within the exhibit.

A glimpse of the original artifacts found during the lighthouse restoration.

Bits of History - Exhibit Case

View a collection of original artifacts found during restoration work at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. The artifacts are exhibited in the recently restored service room leading to the light tower.

Lighthouse tower door key.

Tower Key

See the original key to the tower door that was found by a staff worker during restoration work. The key was hidden on a beam in the watch room.

Red lantern glass fragments.

Original Red Lantern Fragments

See some of the original red glass lantern fragments that were found in the tower. Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse's particular light designation by the lightservice was a red light.

Original match box, wrapper, and matches on display in the service room exhibit.

Original Match Box, Wrapper and Matches

View some of the original matches found in the tower that were used to light the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse light before it became electrified in 1929.

Night Time Navigator is one of the four interactive exhibits in the lighthouse.

Night Time Navigator

One of the four interactive lighthouse exhibits is the "Night Time Navigator". The visitor navigates a ship through the Mackinac Straits using navigational aids. Be careful not to sink your ship.