USLHS Lighthouse Passport Program – Michigan Stamp Locations
Michigan is proud of its lighthouses and maritime heritage, and home to more lighthouses than any other state. This make our state an excellent place to obtain stamps for the USLHS Lighthouse Passport Program, and in this post we’ll showcase exactly where stamps can be obtained. The US Lighthouse Society describes this program as “a vehicle for lighthouses and other participating locations to obtain donations to continue their preservation, restoration or educational efforts.” It should be little surprise that we have more stamps available (102 as of August 2020) than any other state.
They suggest a one dollar minimum donation per stamp, and hope that the program can “act as an educational tool by encouraging the use of the Passport Club and USLHS websites to learn more about lighthouse and maritime history, act as an incentive for collectors, young and old, to learn more about lighthouses and their role in American maritime history,” and to “add to the excitement and fun of visiting lighthouses and encouraging participating in lighthouse events, festivals, challenges and tours.”
Passports are available from the USLHS (http://uslhs.org/fun/passport-club) and at most of the participating lighthouses on the list below. This is a great way to keep track of all of the lighthouses you’ve visited, and an awesome souvenir to show off to friends. Our Ultimate Michigan Lighthouse Road Trip: Lower Peninsula and Ultimate Michigan Lighthouse Road Trip: Upper Peninsula will help you get started tracking down these historic beacons.
Recognition awards include patches for each time a passport book is filled with 60 stamps. Passports can be mailed in, copied or scanned – details on where to send completed books can be found at: http://uslhs.org/fun/passport-club/guidelines. Additional “level up” award can be reached by filling out a second passport (Silver Star Level), third passport (Gold Star Level), fourth passport (Platinum Circle), fifth passport (300 Stamps Wing), sixth passport (360 Stamps Wing), and seventh passport (420 Stamps Wing). In addition, the Hall of Fame (http://uslhs.org/fun/passport-club/hall-of-fame) recognizes those who have completed one or more passports.
Alpena Light: stamp is available at the NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena)
Au Sable Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse during the summer months when it is open (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore)
Beaver Head Lighthouse, Beaver Island Harbor Lighthouse (St. James): stamp available on Beaver Island at the Beaver Island Ferry Transit office (26195 Main St.)
Big Bay Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse, which is an active bed and breakfast (#3 Lighthouse Rd., Big Bay)
Big Sable Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse inside Ludington State Park (8800 W. M-116, Ludington)
Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse: stamp available on the Shepler’s Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/)
Charity Island Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse gift shop as part of the dinner cruise trip leaving from Au Gres or Caseville (http://www.charityisland.net/)
Charlevoix South Pierhead Light: stamp available at the Charlevoix Historical Society Museum at the Harsha House (103 State Street, Charlevoix, MI).
Cheboygan River Range Front Light and Cheboygan Crib Light: stamps available at the front range light when it is open for tours (606 E. Water St., Cheboygan), two other stamps available on the Shepler’s Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/)
Copper Harbor Lighthouse: stamp available at the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Museum (670 Lighthouse Rd., Eagle Harbor) or by mail
Crisp Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse gift shop (1944 County Road 412, Newberry)
DeTour Reef Light: one stamp available through the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society (http://drlps.com/), another available on the Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/)/at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
Detroit River Lighthouse: stamp available at the Depot Museum in Grosse Ile (25020 E. River Rd.)
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse museum (670 Lighthouse Rd., Eagle Harbor) or by mail
Eagle River Lighthouse: stamp available at the Eagle Harbor lighthouse museum (670 Lighthouse Rd., Eagle Harbor) or by mail
Escanaba Harbor Crib Light: stamp available at the Delta County Historical Society/Sand Point Lighthouse (16 Waterplant Rd., Escanaba)
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse (2802 Omar St., Port Huron)
Forty Mile Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse (7323 US-23 N, Rogers City)
Fourteen Foot Shoal Light: stamp available on Shepler’s Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/) or at GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
Frankfort U.S. Coast Guard Guard Station: stamp available at Oliver Art Center (restored 1934 Coast Guard Station), 132 Coast Guard Road, Frankfort.
Frankfort Breakwater: stamp available at the Frankfort Elberta Chamber of Commerce (517 Main St., Frankfort) or by mail; second Point Betsie stamp also available
Grand Haven South Pierhead Lights: stamp available at the Grand Haven Area Convention & Visitors Bureau during the week (225 Franklin Avenue, Grand Haven)
Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse, Grand Island North Lighthouse, Grand Island Harbor Rear Range Lighthouse: these three stamps are available at the Alger County Historical Society (1496 Washington St., Munising)
Grand Marais Lighthouse Keepers Museum: two stamps available at the museum (on Coast Guard Point next to the range lights). https://www.grandmaraismichigan.com/visit-us/attractions/museums/
Grand Traverse Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse in Leelanau State Park (15500 N. Lighthouse Point Rd., Northport)
Gravelly Shoal Light: stamp available at the gift shop at the Charity Island Lighthouse during dinner cruises (http://www.charityisland.net/)
Gray’s Reef Light: stamp available on the Shepler’s Westbound Lighthouse Cruise (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/) or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
Grice House Museum: stamp available at the museum (868 Huron Ave., Harbor Beach) in the summer and at Harbor Beach City Hall (766 State St.) from September through May.
Grosse Ile North Channel Range Light: stamp available at the lighthouse on the rare occasions it is open for tours, otherwise it can be obtained at the Depot Museum (25020 E. River Rd., Grosse Ile)
Gull Rock Lighthouse: stamp available at Minnetonka Resort Gift Shop (562 Gratiot St. Copper Harbor) or by mail (Gull Rock Lightkeepers, P.O. Box 126, Copper Harbor, MI 49918)
Harbor Beach Lighthouse: stamp available at the Harbor Beach Municipal Marina (1 Ritchie Dr., Harbor Beach)
Holland Harbor Lighthouse: stamp available at the Holland Museum (31 W. 10th St., Holland)
Jacobsville Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse, which is an active bed and breakfast (38741 Jacobs Street, Lake Linden)
Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light: stamp available at the Keweenaw Land Trust office Keweenaw Land Trust office, (101 Quincy St., Suite 303, Hancock) or by mail
Lightship HURON: stamp available at the lightship museum in Pine Grove Park (800 Prospect Place, Port Huron)
Little Sable Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse (287 N Lighthouse Drive, Mears)
Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse in Stearns Park (N. Lakeshore Drive four blocks north of Ludington Ave.)
Mackinac Island Coast Guard Station: stamp available at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center (Mackinac Island State Park Visitor’s Center)
Manistee North Pier Lighthouse: stamp available at the Manistee County Historical Museum (425 River Street, Manistee)
Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse: stamp available at the Seul Choix Pointe lighthouse gift shop, Gulliver Historical Society, 1906 W County Road 432, Gulliver. (www.greatlakelighthouse.com)
Manitou Island Lighthouse: stamp available at the Keweenaw Land Trust office in the E.L. Wright building (801 N. Lincoln Drive, Suite 306, Hancock)
Marquette Breakwater Light, Presque Isle Breakwater Light, Marquette Harbor Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, Marquette Life Saving Station: all four stamps are available at the Marquette Maritime Museum (300 Lakeshore Blvd., Marquette)
Martin Reef Light: stamp available through Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/)
McGulpin Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse (500 Headlands Road, Mackinaw City)
Mendota (Bete Grise) Lighthouse: stamp available only by mail – send request along with a SASE and donation to: Laura Scaccia, 430 S. Water Street Marine City, MI 48039-3636.
Menominee North Pier Lighthouse: there are two stamps with the same design – one stamp is at the lighthouse, the other is housed at the Menominee Heritage Museum (904 11th Ave, Menominee).
Middle Island Lighthouse: stamp available through Captain Mike, who takes tours to the island out of Rockport Harbor (http://www.middleislandlighthouse.com/)
Mission Point Lighthouse: two stamps are available at the lighthouse when it is open (20500 Center Road, Traverse City)
Munising Range Lights: for now the stamp is at the Fuzzy Boyak Welcome Center (129 E. Munising Ave.) until the Alger County Historical Society museum building is finished with renovations.
Muskegon South Pier Light: stamp available at the lighthouse during the summer when it is open for tours (http://www.muskegonlights.org/)
North Manitou Island Shoal Lighthouse: stamp available on trips to the Manitou Islands with Manitou Island transit out of Leland (http://manitoutransit.com/)
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse museum’s fog signal house during tours (526 N. Huron Ave.) or on the Shepler’s Lighthouses Cruises (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/)
Ontonagon Lighthouse & Ontonagon West Pierhead Light: stamps available at the Ontonagon County Historical Society Museum (422 River St., Ontonagon)
Peche Island Lighthouse: stamp available at The Sweet Tooth (312 South Water Street, Marine City)
Peninsula Point Light: this stamp is available at the Rapid River Ranger District’s Visitor’s Center of the Hiawatha National Forest (8181 U.S. Highway 2, Rapid River)
Poe Reef Lighthouse: stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises (http://sheplersferry.com/cruises/) or at the GLLKA office in Mackinaw City (707 North Huron)
Point Betsie Lighthouse: stamp available by contacting Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse by mail (P.O. Box 601, Frankfort, MI 49635) or taking a tour when available (http://www.pointbetsie.org/)
Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, Life Saving Station, and Lens: three stamps available at the Keepers House Museum (7320 Lighthouse Road, Port Hope). www.pointeauxbarqueslighthouse.org
Point Iroquois Light Station: stamp available at the lighthouse (12942 Lake Shore Drive, Brimley)
Port Austin Reef Lighthouse: stamp available at the Port Austin Chamber of Commerce (2 West Spring Street, Port Austin) If the Chamber is not open you can get a stamp at the Harbor Master’s Office or at Schillinger & Schillinger’s Insurance (8265 N Van Dyke Rd, Port Austin)
www.portaustinreeflight.org
Port Sanilac Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse during tours. The rest of the time you can find it at the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum (228 South Ridge Street, Port Sanilac).
Presque Isle (New) Lighthouse, Presque Isle Front Range Light: both stamps are available at the New Presque Isle Lighthouse Gift Shop (4500 E. Grand Lake Rd., Presque Isle) www.presqueislelighthouses.org/index.html
Presque Isle (Old) Lighthouse: stamp available at the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse gift shop (5295 E. Grand Lake Rd., Presque Isle)
www.presqueislelighthouses.org/index.html
Round Island Lighthouse: stamp available through mail – Round Island (Michigan) Lighthouse Preservation Society, P.O. Box 6363, Saginaw, MI 48608-6363
or at the RILPS booth at lighthouse festivals. Another stamp available with Shepler’s lighthouse cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
www.roundislandlightmichigan.com
Round Island Passage: stamp available on Shepler’s lighthouse cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse: stamp available via mail – Saginaw River Marine Historical Society, P.O. Box 2051, Bay City, MI. 48707-2051.
St. Clair Flats Old South Channel Range Lights: stamp available by contacting Save Our South Channel Lights either by phone or email. Mailing address –
PO Box 15, Harsens Island, MI 48028 www.soschannellights.org
St. Helena Island Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse, additional stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
St. Joseph Pierhead Lights: there is one stamp available at The Candlestick Maker, Inc. (408 State St., Saint Joseph) and a second at Purely Michigan (406 State St., St. Joseph)
www.purelymi.com
Sand Hills Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse during stays or by mail (closed 2020) – PO Box 298; Ahmeek MI 49901. stamp available at Eagle Harbor Lighthouse Museum when not available at the lighthouse itself. www.sandhillslighthouseinn.com
Sand Point Lighthouse (Baraga): stamp available at the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Historic Preservation Office (16429 Beartown Rd., Baraga)
www.kbic-nsn.gov
Sand Point Lighthouse (Escanaba): stamp available at the lighthouse or next door at the Delta County Historical Museum (16 Waterplant Road, Escanaba)
www.exploringthenorth.com/sandpoint/light.html
Seul Choix Point Lighthouse: multiple stamps are available at the lighthouse including the official Society stamp. www.greatlakelighthouse.com
Skillagalee (Ile Aux Galets) Lighthouse: stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises and at the GLLKA office (707 North Huron, Mackinaw City)
South Haven South Pier Lighthouse: stamp available at the Michigan Maritime Museum (260 Dyckman Ave, South Haven) http://www.michiganmaritimemuseum.org
Another stamp is available at the Historical Association of South Haven (located in the Hartman
School Building, 355 Hubbard Street, South Haven) http://historyofsouthhaven.org/
South Manitou Island Lighthouse: stamp available on ferry trips to Maintou Island with Manitou Island Transit, departures from Leland, MI www.manitoutransit.com
From November to April the stamp is available at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Visitors
Center (9922 Front St, Empire)
Spectacle Reef Light: stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
Squaw Island Lighthouse: stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City) or by mail with proof of visit
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse gift shop (6071 E. Point Rd., Harrisville) alconahistoricalsociety.com
Tawas Point Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse gift shop inside Tawas Point State Park (686 Tawas Beach Rd., East Tawas)
Thunder Bay Lighthouse: stamp available at the NOAA Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center (500 W. Fletcher, Alpena) www.thunderbay.noaa.gov/maritime/glmhc.html
Waugoshance Lighthouse: stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City)
Wawatam Lighthouse: stamp available at the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce (560 North State, St. Ignace), sometimes next door at the Museum of Ojibwa Culture (396 N. State St.)
http://www.saintignace.org/history-of-st-ignace/wawatam-lighthouse-history/
White River Lighthouse: stamp available at the lighthouse (6199 Murray Rd., Whitehall) www.splka.org
Whitefish Point Lighthouse and Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: stamps available at the museum (18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, Paradise) http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com
White Shoal Lighthouse: stamp available on Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruises or at the GLLKA office (707 N. Huron, Mackinaw City). A new stamp (two colors!) is available on trips out to the lighthouse – find out more at https://www.preservewhiteshoal.org/.
Four Isle Royale lighthouse stamps are available through the USLHS by sending a photo taken at the lighthouse and including a donation and SASE for a copy of the stamp. Send to 9005 Point No Point Road NE, Hansville, WA 98340. This includes the Isle Royale (Menagerie Island) Lighthouse, Rock Harbor Lighthouse, Rock of Ages Light and Passage Island Lighthouse. A stamp for Rock of Ages is also available at the Windigo Ranger Station.
