Old Mission Point Lighthouse is located at the northern tip of a seventeen mile long "finger" of land, which starts at Traverse City and bisects the Grand Traverse Bay down the middle. The location of the lighthouse happens to be on the 45th parallel of lattitude, half way between the north pole and the equator. The lighthouse was built in 1870 as a small wood framed house, with the lantern room penetrating up through the roof. The resemblance to an old country schoolhouse is obvious.
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The tower stands 30 ft tall, but the optic and lens have long since been removed. The site was deactivated in 1933, and was taken over by the state. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but the grounds are easily accessible with an adjacent public beach. The unique beach is rock free until you reach the water's edge. From there, the lake extends a couple hundred yds. at a 1-2 foot depth, with large rocks and boulders scattered all around. It was quite a setting.
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