Crisp Point: The Light That Was Nearly Lost to the Lake
A lonely tower on a remote stretch of Lake Superior that nearly slid into the lake — saved by stubborn volunteers and relit in 2013.
On a wild stretch of Lake Superior west of Whitefish Point stands a lighthouse that very nearly fell into the lake it was built to guard.
The federal government built the Crisp Point Life-Saving Station in 1875, and it began operating the next year. The station later took the name of keeper Christopher Crisp. The lighthouse followed in 1904. In 1965, the Coast Guard removed every station building except the tower and its service room. Then Lake Superior began eating away the shoreline around what remained.
Don and Nellie Ross found the neglected light in 1988 and helped start the Crisp Point Light Historical Society in 1991. Erosion destroyed the original service room in 1996, but the tower held. In 1998, the society brought in about 1,000 cubic yards of stone to protect it. Volunteers kept restoring the site, and in 2013 the light began operating seasonally again for the first time since 1992.
Where to see it
Crisp Point is about 14.5 miles west of Whitefish Point. County Road 412 is winding and seasonal, and its last seven miles are not plowed in winter. The lighthouse, visitor center, and restrooms operate seasonally and can close when road conditions or volunteer coverage changes. Check the operator's calendar before the long drive.
Sources
Last reviewed against the listed sources: July 20, 2026.