Kalamazoo River Light - Saugatuck

The first light station in Saugatuck was established in the 1830s at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. In 1839, a stone lighthouse was built -- known as both the Kalamazoo River Light and the Saugatuck Light. Built too close to the water's edge, it fell to erosion after a few short years.

The lighthouse at left was built in 1859. George H. Sheridan was the only professional lighthouse keeper to serve in Saugatuck. The son of lighthouse keepers (Aaron and Julia Sheridan, South Manitou Island), he came to Saugatuck in 1900 with his wife Sarah Unwin and served until the light was decommissioned in 1914. George then went on to Gross Pointe Lighthouse in Evanston, Illinois. Sarah remained in Saugatuck with their three sons. She purchased a house in town and took in laundry to make ends meet. The home is still owned by the Sheridan family and operates today as The Lighthouse Keeper Gift Shop.

The 1859 lighthouse was purchase by a private family and used as a vacation home. In 1959, a tornado destroyed the light and the owners built a private cottage on the 1859 foundation. Some of the materials from that light were used in constructing the cottage. The cottage sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan and it is visible from the water. Currently, two modern pole lights can be found on either side of the channel that connects the Kalamazoo River with Lake Michigan. In 2002, a scale replica of the 1859 lighthouse was built across the channel in Douglas next to the SS Keewatin Maritime Museum.

Saugatuck/Douglas CVB: 269-857-1701
West Michigan Tourist Association: 800-442-2084
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association: 313-436-9150