In 1972, the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the lighthouse. A citizens group restored the structure and opened it to the public in 1987. Also known as Cat's Head Lighthouse, it is a museum and part of the Leelanau State Park. Visitors can explore the lighthouse and gaze over the water from the top of the tower. When planning a visit, it's best to call ahead for the current visitor schedule.
Admission is charged.
About 17 miles north of Traverse City, at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula, sits another fascinating lighthouse. Built in 1870, this small beauty features a white tower perched atop a wood cottage. Facing an expanse of blue water, the Old Mission Point Lighthouse tower is encased in a black cast iron parapet. Lighthouses of varying shapes and sizes dot the Lake Michigan coastline from St. Joseph to the Mackinac Straits. For more information about these and other historic Michigan beacons, contact Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, P.O. Box 580, Allen Park, MI 48101.