Lighthouses have long been symbols of safety and guidance, but life at these isolated beacons was not without danger. For some Great Lakes lighthouse keepers, their service ended in tragedy.
The Michigan Maritime Museum invites the public to join author and historian Dianna Stampfler for a fascinating look at the darker side of lighthouse history during her presentation, Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes.
Losing one’s life while tending a Great Lakes lighthouse or a navigational beacon anywhere in the world—was, sadly, not as unusual as one might imagine. While deaths from murder, drowning, suicide, and other unnatural causes were rare, they were not unheard of. More than a dozen lighthouse keepers around the Great Lakes died at the hands of others, through fire, poisoning, bludgeoning, and circumstances that remain unknown.
Drawing on extensive research for her book, Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes, Stampfler will bring these little-known stories to life, exploring the lives, deaths, and mysteries surrounding the keepers who served at these remote and often unforgiving stations.
The lecture will be held at the Michigan Maritime Museum, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Museum.
This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Sue Smith.
Virtual viewing is made possible thanks to Steve & Emily Holt.
For tickets and additional information, visit MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org/events or contact the Michigan Maritime Museum at 269-637-8078.
EVENT DETAILS
MMM Lecture Series: Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Location: Michigan Maritime Museum, 260 Dyckman Ave., South Haven, MI
Admission: Free for Michigan Maritime Museum members; $10 for non-members
Tickets: Online MichiganMaritimeMuseum.org/events | Phone 269-637-8078 | In person
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