White River Light Station - Whitehall

City: White Hall
County: Muskegon
Region: Central West Michigan
Established: 1875
Constructed: 1875
Active Beacon: No.
Federal Ownership: No.Owned by Fruitland Township and the Great Lakes Marine Museum
Accessible to Public: Yes.
Accessible for Climbing: Yes.
Museum on Site: Yes.

Now the home of the Fruitland Township Great Lakes Marine Museum, this shore light was built in 1875, some five years after the channel was cut between Lake Michigan and White Lake. The lighthouse replaced a pier light that had been built in 1871. A U.S. Life Saving Service station was establish across the channel in the same year as the lighthouse.

The station is a 1-1/2 story yellow brick dwelling with an octagonal tower attached to one corner. The 10-sided black iron lantern is now empty, but the original Fourth Order Fresnel lens is on display inside the museum.

Located in Whitehall, Michigan at the end of Murray Road off South Shore Drive around White Lake.

The museum is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and weekends noon to 6:00p.m. Visitors can climb the spiral cast iron stairs in the light tower for a great view of Lake Michigan and the area sand dunes.