Passion for the Park

According to the dictionary, a lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses, and to serve as a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Through the years, lighthouses have marked dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, and safe entries to harbors, and assisted in aerial navigation. 

That is the practical aspect. For many, the passion for lighthouses has roots in the emotional response to seeing that beacon when far from shore - it means safety, hope and home. In a world of technology that can lead us anyplace almost blindfolded, preservation of lighthouses takes us back to a time when people relied on their skills and instinct and tools like celestial navigation to find their way.

Nothing beats the seeing that first green flash of the Fort Gratiot Light on a foggy evening at the end of a long lake crossing. It is a part of the history and heritage of the Blue Water Area. The Friends of the Fort Gratot Light are working to help keep the light burning for generations to come.