SKU: 5470

The Ludington Pierhead Light marks the entrance to Pere Marquette Harbor. Located in the heart of Michigan's vital lumber industry that thrived in the early 1900s, the Ludington harbor grew in importance. At the turn of the century, Ludington was home to the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world. The ships were used as ferries to carry rail cars and passengers back and forth across the lake. The 57 foot steel sided white tower with its black lantern room was built in 1924, and it is this same familiar structure that greets mariners today. A million dollar harbor improvement program was initiated in 1914 to facilitate shipping of lumber on Lake Michigan, and the old beacon was moved to the north breakwater on a newly constructed crib. Automated in 1972 the lighthouse continues to operate as a US Coast Guard navigational aid. Since 1924, the first sight for visitors arriving on the trans-Lake Michigan ferry has been the lighthouse on Ludington Pier. The car ferry, SS Badger, continues the proud tradition of carrying passengers and their automobiles across the lake between Ludington Michigan and Manitowoc Wisconsin.

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