Detroit River Light
Undated USCG photo
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| Location |
Lake Erie south of Detroit River, Monroe County, near Berlin Charter Township |
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| Coordinates | 42°0′2.7″N 83°8′26.45″W / 42.000750°N 83.1406806°WCoordinates: 42°0′2.7″N 83°8′26.45″W / 42.000750°N 83.1406806°W |
| Year first constructed | 1875 (lightship) 1885 (current tower) |
| Automated | 1979 |
| Foundation |
Wood/cement crib Granite pier |
| Construction | Cast iron with brick lining |
| Tower shape | frustum of a cone with attached building. |
| Markings / pattern | White with black top |
| Height | 49 feet (15 m) |
| Focal height | 55 feet (17 m) |
| Original lens | 4th order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl(2) W 6s |
| Fog signal | Horn: 1 every 30s |
| Racon | "X" (X-ray) |
| ARLHS number | USA-227 |
| USCG number |
6885 |
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Detroit River Light Station
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| Nearest city | Rockwood, Michigan |
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | Davis C.E.L.B. |
| MPS | U.S. Coast Guard Lighthouses and Light Stations on the Great Lakes TR |
| NRHP Reference # | 83000886 |
| Added to NRHP | August 04, 1983 |
6885
The Detroit River Light, also known as Bar Point Shoal Light, was first established as a lightship in 1875. The current sparkplug lighthouse was built in 1885. It sits in Lake Erie, south of the mouth of the Detroit River, 1.75 nautical miles (3.24 km; 2.01 mi) from land and about 20 nautical miles (23 mi; 37 km) from the Ambassador Bridge in the Detroit River. It is about 0.4 nautical miles (0.74 km; 0.46 mi) from the border with Canada, and just under 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi) from Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Its original 4th order Fresnel lens is on loan to the Michigan Maritime Museum.
The Detroit River Light replaced a Canadian lightship that had been posted in this channel location since 1875, guiding upbound vessels making a turn in the Detroit River.
The United States Lighthouse Board completed the Detroit River Light in 1885 at a cost of $78,000. The Light was first lit on August 20, 1885.
The crib was transported to the site from Amherstburg, Ontario. It was built pre-fabricated 45 by 18 feet (13.7 by 5.5 m), sunk in 22 feet (6.7 m) of water, filled with concrete and surrounded by a granite pier. The light station pier is shaped like a vessel. Its pointed end is directed toward the mouth of the river to break river-powered ice floes. Above the crib and pier, the 49 feet (15 m) high cast iron boiler plate tower is 22 feet (6.7 m) in diameter at its base and 18 feet (5.5 m) at the top. There is an attached storage building and radio beacon.
Construction was eventful and problematic. When the crib settled, it was uneven, about 16 inches (410 mm) off level. As winter was approaching and work set to stop, 550 short tons of stone were loaded onto the pier, "mostly on the high side." Upon the crews return the following spring, gravity and ice floes had made the granite pier level.
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Wikipedia