De Tour Reef Light

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De Tour Reef Light

Location: Lake Huron, Michigan
Coordinates
WGS-84 (GPS)		 45°56′56.12″N 83°54′10.98″W / 45.9489222, -83.90305
Year first lit: 1931
Automated: 1974
Foundation: Crib
Construction: Reinforced concrete and steel
Tower shape: Square
Markings/Pattern: White with red roof
Height: Tower - 63 feet (19 m)[1]
Elevation: Focal plane - 73 feet (22 m)
Original lens: 3.5 order Fresnel Lens
Current lens: VRB-25 acrylic


The DeTour Reef Light is a non-profit-operated lighthouse marking the southern entrance of the DeTour Passage between the eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Drummond Island. It marks the northern end of Lake Huron. The passage is used by almost all of the Great Lakes commercial freighter traffic moving to and from Lake Superior, with approximately 5,000 vessel movements annually. It is said to be "the gateway to Lake Superior."[2] In addition, many recreational boaters use the passage. The nearest town is DeTour Village, Michigan.

Contents

[edit] Lighthouse history

The southern entrance to DeTour Passage is made dangerous by a shoal, DeTour Reef. In order to enter or leave the passage, boats must thread past a shallow area no more than 23 feet (7 m) deep.

In 1847 a lighthouse was located on shore at Point De Tour, Michigan to protect the DeTour Passage at the northwestern end of Lake Huron. In 1931 it was moved offshore on to De Tour Reef. It is locally called the "Gateway to Superior”.

The DeTour Reef Lighthouse, raised in 1931, not only marks the channel, but also is built atop DeTour Reef, and warns boats away from it. The lighthouse and its concrete base are 83 feet (25 m) tall.

This light (and its predecessor) have gone through many different lenses in its 160 year history.

  • In 1848, the original illuminating apparatus was a fixed white light produced by 13 Argand lamps each with a 14" reflector. It was designed with a 270-degree arc to conserve fuel oil.
  • In 1857 a 4th order Fresnel lens producing a fixed white light was installed.
  • In 1870 a fixed, white, 3rd order Fresnel lens was installed. That year, the remnants of the original stone tower were removed. In 1907, the 3rd order lens was replaced by a 3-1/2-order bi-valve lens. This lens did not last long.
  • In 1908 a 3 1/2 Order Fresnel lens, configured as a flashing white light with a characteristic of a one-second flash and a nine-second eclipse was installed. It had an effective range of 30 miles. The lens was manufactured by Barbier, Benard & Turenne Co. of Paris, France. It has the number USLHE 317 stamped on it.
  • In 1931, a new Detour Reef light structure was introduced. The same lens was relocated to it, The light remained white
  • In 1936, the color changed from straight white to white with a red sector that faced land. This was accomplished through the use of a color shade inside the lens room.
  • In 1978 this lens was dismantled. It is now on display at the DeTour Passage Historical Museum in De Tour Village, Michigan.[3]
  • The present optic is an acrylic Vega VRB-25[4] lens.[5]

A concise explanation on the different lenses and their technology is available at Lighthouse Illumination Technology, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.

[edit] Lighthouse privatization

Like most U.S. lighthouses, the DeTour Reef Lighthouse is no longer needed by its former owner, the United States Coast Guard. Beginning in 1998, they transferred ownership responsibilities for the light to the DeTour Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society (DRLPS), its current owner. The DRLPS renovated the light at a cost of $1.2 million.

As of 2006, the DRLPS offers boat trips to and tours of the lighthouse. A significant fee is charged to help cover the operating costs of maintaining the lighthouse.

The DeTour Reef Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.[6]

[edit] Lighthouse relics

The DeTour Reef Light's former 3½-order Fresnel lens, taken out of service in 1978, is displayed at the DeTour Passage Historical Museum in DeTour, Mich., and the lighthouse's former diaphone foghorn is displayed at the Drummond Island Historical Museum.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Terry Pepper, database on heights and focal planes.
  2. ^ Wobser, David, Detour Reef Light -- Gateway to Lake Superior, Boatnerd.com
  3. ^ History of the De Tour light, De Tour Light Preservation Society.
  4. ^ Vega VRB-25 description.
  5. ^ National Park Service, Maritime heritage, inventory of De Tour Reef Light.
  6. ^ National Register of Historic Places Listings March 25, 2005

[edit] See also

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] External links

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U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Park Service logo