Featured Destination Story

Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse

Michigan City, IN

The Michigan City Harbor and its piers were constructed where Trail Creek entered Lake Michigan. Initially, there was just a beacon on the pier, accessible by a raised walkway. Two years, the East Pierhead Lighthouse was built. This is one of the very few lights on the Great Lakes that had a 1,500-foot iron walkway, a “catwalk”, atop the pier.

The lighthouse keeper for the Old Michigan City Light, Harriet Colfax, was responsible for the maintenance of the new pierhead light and the west breakwater light, as well as the shore light.
Twice each night, she would cross the catwalk to the lantern room to trim the wick, polish the lens, and refuel the light, first with whale oil and lard, and later, kerosene. She would return in the morning to extinguish the light. So intent on her duties as she was, the lights of Michigan City Harbor became known as “Old Faithful.”