South Manitou Lighthouse

Photo above: Historic photo of the South Manitou Island Lighthouse. Courtesy Historic Buildings Survey and Library of Congress. Right: Scene from the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

When you stand on the bluffs, some up to four hundred and fifty feet high, above Lake Michigan and stare across the expanse of lake in your wake, a sense of awe and tranquility begins to seep into your mind. On some days, it might even take you past the everyday problems that traveled with you. What visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes already know, is that for whatever moment of fun, wonder, or tranquility transpires while you're there, you do get to enjoy the beach, the water, a hike, and some history along the way. And if you like lighthouses, well, there's a really cool one on an island one great ferry ride away that's been around for awhile.



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Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Sleeping Bear Dunes Then

The Manitou Passage has been a busy shipping lane for centuries prior to highways and visitor services. This waterway between the South and North Manitou Islands and the mainland was a natural location for docks and refueling. And the building of the South Manitou lighthouse became a necessity as traffic grew. The original lighthouse was built in 1839, and updated twice, in 1858 and 1871. There was also, at one time, a second lighthouse on North Manitou Island, was swept away in 1930.

The legend of Sleeping Bear. It's a pretty sad story. The legend says that a mother bear and her two cubs were pushed into the lake by a forest fire, and tried to swim to safety. However, the two cubs did not make it while the mother bear did. The two islands, by legend, were created to represent the two cubs. The solitary dune on the mainland represents the mother.

Once the shipping history of the area was secured, its farming and logging heritage took root. This is represented in the park by Glen Haven and the various farmsteads in the area.

Photo above: Photo above: Trumpeter swans sliding across Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Courtesy National Park Service. Photo below: Yes, it's also about winter. Sledders sliding down the Dune Climb. Courtesy National Park Service.

Sledding at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear Dunes Now

Once you wander into the Philip A. Hart Visitor Center and grab a map, you'll start to get a feeling to just how large and wonderful Sleeping Bear Dunes is. Yes, there's two islands a ferry ride away, one with that cool lighthouse, and both with campgrounds for you to camp in, all within the confines of Lake Michigan waters. But there's also a good deal more, and even more than the thirteen trails to explore. On South Manitou Island, there are seasonal motor tours, Giant Cedars, and a Visitor Center. On North Manitou Island, it's your basic wilderness. Down on the mainland, well, there's those trails, lakes, rivers, a Maritime Museum, farmsteads to explore, and a scenic drive that you really should explore. It's gonna take awhile to visit, but that's what a Michigan vacation into fun and history should be, isn't it.

South Manitou Island - The lighthouse still stands, but is no longer in use as a lighthouse. It serves for interpretation. Once the North Manitou Lighthouse was swept away, a crib light was built further out on the shoal, which made the south lighthouse obsolete. It has not been used since 1958.

Glen Haven, Point Oneida, and Ghost Towns - You can visit Glen Haven today and see a representation of a Michigan logging village. The D.H. Day General store serves as the Visitor Center. Ghost towns dot the area. They're interesting to explore. Why are there ghost towns here? Well, after the Chicago Fire of 1871, there was a great demand for timber and logging towns sprang up all over the area. By 1910, the timber was gone and there was no need for many of the towns to remain.

In the Point Oenida district, there are farms that show what the agricultural heritage of the area was; some are in the midst of a plan for additional restoration.



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Sleeping Bear Dunes Visitor Center

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Things You Should Not Miss


1. Go on a ranger guided Star Party. This is one pristine place to look into the night sky. Now any of the ranger programs at this diverse park would be great to catch, but this one at night might just have a bit of a different edge to it.

2. Take a tour of the South Manitou Lighthouse. It's one of the distinct images of the park, so it would be a shame not to learn a bit more about it. To get there, you have to take a ferry, and you should reserve ahead of time, get there forty-five minutes early, and bring a packed lunch. The ferry takes off from the Fishtown Dock, north end of the lakeshore park, in Leland. Prices are $40/adult, $20/kids 12 and under. Prices subject to change without notice.

3. Go to the beach. The dunes are cool to climb and for those in a midwest state of mind, it's one of the best places to do sand duty.

Photo above: Philip A. Hart Visitor Center, Empire, Wisconsin. Courtesy National Park Service.


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