St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights

St. Joseph North Pier Outer Light Station & Inner Light Station

Ninth District Lighthouse Depot Station Established: 1893
Light Constructed: NA

Listed with the National Register of Historic Places: December 2, 1993

The St. Joseph Historic Lighthouse and catwalk, located on the city's North Pier, was erected at the mouth of the St. Joseph River in 1832. It was one of the first two lighthouses built on Lake Michigan. It is thought to have been the home of the late Captain Pickering.

In 1859, a replacement lighthouse was built on the bluff. The tower and beacon were constructed first. The keeper's house was built around it later. That beacon was replaced by range lights after the north and south piers were built in 1907 and 1919, respectively. St. Joseph and Grand Haven boast the only remaining two-pier range light systems with both towers and catwalks intact.

In 1938, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibilities for navigation warnings signals and marine safety, absorbing the lighthouse services. The original St. Joseph lighthouse with tower and beacon was torn down in 1955. The current lighthouse replica was constructed later on the North Pier. Both the North Pier and the South Pier, which house the range lights, are publicly accessible.

In 1995, the current North Pier lighthouse was featured by the U.S. Postal Service in a series of commemorative Great Lakes Lighthouse stamps.

Directions: Take I-94 exit 27 (M 63/Niles Road) north four miles into downtown St. Joseph. Niles Road will turn into Niles Avenue and then Main Street. Take Main Street to Upton Drive, go over the railroad tracks, past a parking lot on your left, and make a sharp left onto Marina Drive. You will drive past a marina and boat lot, and come to a yield sign. Go left at the yield sign and make a right into the Tiscornia Beach parking lot.

Southwest Michigan Tourist Council: 269-925-6301
West Michigan Tourist Association: 800-442-2084
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association: 231-436-5580