Keepers and their families lived inside the Ontonagon lighthouse for 97 years, by our count. The Ontonagon County Historical Society puts the span at 1866, when the present building opened, to 1963, when the light was deactivated. Lighthousefriends.com counts nine head keepers over the station’s life, and the last of them, Arnold Huuki, retired on January 1, 1964.
The Society now owns the building and runs the lighthouse tour out of its museum at 422 River Street. The Society suggests starting at the museum, where the fifth order Fresnel lens from the light sits on display, then driving the short distance to the lighthouse. The tour runs through all three levels, tower and lantern included. Very little is under glass and no rooms are roped off.
Tours run 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week from mid-May to mid-October, so the 2026 season has just closed. The Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce says off-season tours are available by appointment, weather permitting, through the museum at 906-884-6165.
The 1853 light the Ontonagon lighthouse replaced
There was a light on this spot before the building you tour today. Lighthousefriends.com, a secondary source, says Samuel Peck was appointed the light’s first keeper on August 26, 1853, and that a fifth order Fresnel lens went into the tower in 1857. The Coast Guard’s historian lists the same lens, “FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1857,” as the station’s original.
In 1866 an entirely new “schoolhouse” style lighthouse was built, per Lighthousefriends.com, and the lens moved into the new decagonal lantern room. The Chamber describes a one and a half story cream brick building with a tower three stories high, 39 feet from the ground to the focal plane. That lens is the one you see at the museum before the drive out.
The night Ontonagon burned
In August 1896 fire destroyed almost the entire village and left 2,300 people homeless, the Society says. The lighthouse came through it. Lighthousefriends.com says it was only through the efforts of Keeper James Corgan and his family that the lighthouse was saved, and quotes Corgan on his wife, his son Harry, a hired girl and himself carrying water. Corgan kept the light from 1883 to 1919.
From the Corps of Engineers to the Society
Use of the lighthouse was discontinued in April 1963 after an automatic foghorn and a battery powered light went in on the pier, according to the Chamber. The station was officially closed in January 1964 and leased to Huuki and his wife as a residence. The Coast Guard’s historian lists ownership passing to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that year. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1975.
In 2003 ownership passed from the Corps of Engineers to the Ontonagon County Historical Society, a transfer the Chamber says followed a 10 year effort. The Society has restored the building to circa 1915.
If you go: the Ontonagon County Historical Museum is at 422 River Street, Ontonagon. In season, mid-May to mid-October, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and lighthouse tours run 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The Society’s 2025 rates were $7 per adult for the lighthouse and $5 per adult for the museum, children free. Winter hours are not posted; call 906-884-6165 for an off-season appointment. Set aside at least an hour. Our Go See It page for the lighthouse and museum is here.
Nine families kept that light burning for 97 years. The Society keeps the door open for the rest of us.
Go See It
Ontonagon Lighthouse and County Historical Museum, Ontonagon
- Hours
- Museum: 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lighthouse tours: 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., mid-May to mid-October. Off-season tours by appointment, (906) 884-6165. Hours as shown on the Historical Society’s own site, which carries no update date.
- Cost
- The Historical Society’s site lists no prices. The Ontonagon chamber’s lighthouse page lists $5.00 per person (18 and over). The National Park Service place listing, undated, lists lighthouse tours at $7 for adults and museum tours at $5, children free. Call (906) 884-6165 to confirm.
- Season
- Lighthouse tours run mid-May to mid-October, by appointment after that (Historical Society). The Society lists no season dates for the museum; the NPS listing says mid-May to mid-October.
- Drive
- From Marquette: 2 hr 4 min (114 mi) via US-41 N and M-38 W
From the Bridge: 4 hr 42 min (277 mi) via M-28 W (Google Maps flags tolls on this route)
More worth reading
Sources, credits, and reporting details
Sources & accountability
How this story was reported
Editorial methodArchival synthesis
Last verifiedOct. 19, 2026
Corrections statusNo material correction note is recorded on this article.
AI assistanceResearched and drafted with AI tools. Reviewed and approved by editor Keegan O’Brien.
Verification note: Written October 19, 2026 for the 2026-10-27 edition; sources read and checked Oct. 19, 2026. AI-assisted drafting, staff desk piece.
Primary sources
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Walk into History — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: Keepers and families lived in the lighthouse 1866 to deactivation in 1963
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Keepers and their families lived in the lighthouse from its opening in 1866 until it was deactivated in 1963."
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Walk into History — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "beginning the tour at the museum where you can view the 5th order Fresnel lens … Then drive the short distance to the lighthouse and tour through all three levels including the tower and lantern."
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Walk into History — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: Very little under glass, no rooms roped off, set aside at least an hour
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Very little is “under glass,” and no rooms are roped off … Set aside at least an hour for your lighthouse experience."
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Walk into History — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: August 1896 fire destroyed almost the entire village, 2,300 homeless
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "the disastrous August, 1896 fire … The disaster destroyed almost the entire village and left 2,300 people homeless."
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Ontonagon County Historical Society (home) — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: Museum at 422 River Street, Ontonagon; phone (906) 884-6165
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Ontonagon Historical Museum / 422 River Street / Ontonagon, Michigan 49953 / (906) 884-6165"
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Ontonagon County Historical Society (home) — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: Tours 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 7 days, mid-May to mid-October; restored to circa 1915; museum 10am-4pm
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "The Society has restored it to circa 1915, and tours are available 7 days per week from mid-May to mid-October, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. / 7 Days a Week 10am-4pm"
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OCHS Newsletter, June 2025 — Ontonagon County Historical Society
Published May. 1, 2025. Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: 2025 prices: museum $5 adult, lighthouse $7 adult, children free; museum 10-4, lighthouse 11-3
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Museum admission is $5 per adult. Children are free. Lighthouse admission is $7 per adult. Children are free. Museum hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Lighthouse hours are 11:00 am to 3:00 pm."
Additional reporting
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Lighthouse — Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: Off-season tours by appointment, weather permitting, 906-884-6165
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "in the off-season by appointment, weather conditions permitting (906-884-6165)."
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Lighthouse — Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: 1866 replacement; 1.5 story cream brick; tower three stories, 39 feet to focal plane
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "In 1866, the original structure was replaced with the existing building. … The light tower is three stories high, or 39 feet from the ground to the focal plane"
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Lighthouse — Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "In April 1963, use of the lighthouse was discontinued after an automatic foghorn and battery-powered light were installed … The lighthouse was officially closed in January 1964, after which it was leased to the last keeper"
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Lighthouse — Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: National Register October 1975; 2003 transfer from Corps of Engineers to OCHS after 10-year effort
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "In October 1975, the Ontonagon lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. … the ownership of the historic Ontonagon harbor lighthouse was transferred from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers"
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Ontonagon Lighthouse, Ontonagon, Michigan — U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Original Lens: FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL 1857 … 1964 – Ownership was transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. … 2003 – Ownership passed from the Corps of Engineers to the Ontonagon County Historical Society."
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Ontonagon Lighthouse (secondary, lighthouse enthusiast site) — Lighthousefriends.com
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Samuel Peck was appointed the light’s first keeper on August 26, 1853. … a fifth-order Fresnel lens was installed in the tower in 1857 … an entirely new “schoolhouse” style lighthouse was built"
-
Ontonagon Lighthouse (secondary, lighthouse enthusiast site) — Lighthousefriends.com
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: 1896 fire: lighthouse saved by Keeper Corgan and family carrying water; Corgan keeper 1883-1919
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "It was only through the efforts of Keeper Corgan and his family that the lighthouse was saved … It required the utmost exertion of my wife, son Harry, hired girl & myself to carry water. … James Corgan (1883 – 1919)"
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Ontonagon Lighthouse (secondary, lighthouse enthusiast site) — Lighthousefriends.com
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026.
Supports: Nine keepers; Arnold Huuki last, retired January 1, 1964; patent to OCHS Aug 6, 2003
Fetched Oct 19, 2026: "Arnold Huuki, the last of the nine keepers of Ontonagon Lighthouse, retired on January 1, 1964. … A patent officially conveying the lighthouse to the historical society was issued on August 6, 2003."
Photo and media credits
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The Ontonagon Lighthouse at the mouth of the Ontonagon River — Wikimedia Commons / rossograph
Featured image record. Accessed Oct. 19, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
Supports: Featured image: The Ontonagon Lighthouse at the mouth of the Ontonagon River
Media ID 4421; resized to 2000px; credit in caption and alt
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The Ontonagon Lighthouse, a brick keeper house with the tower rising from the roof — Wikimedia Commons / Sharon Mollerus
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026. CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.
Supports: Body image 2: The Ontonagon Lighthouse, a brick keeper house with the tower rising from the roof
Media ID 4422; resized to 2000px; credit in caption and alt
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The Ontonagon River at Ontonagon, Michigan — Wikimedia Commons / Tim Kiser
Accessed Oct. 19, 2026. CC BY-SA 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5.
Supports: Body image 3: The Ontonagon River at Ontonagon, Michigan
Media ID 4423; resized to 2000px; credit in caption and alt
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