Old Michigan City Light and Museum

In 1830, fourteen years after Indiana became a state, real estate speculator Isaac C. Elston paid $200 for 160 acres of land at the mouth of Trail Creek. His ambitious plan was to create Indiana’s first harbor on Lake Michigan. Michigan City's first light was a simple "postlight", until Elston deeded land for the construction of the Michigan City lighthouse in 1835. This light, next to its accompanying dwelling, stood 39 feet high with four lanterns installed in front of reflectors.

By 1858, a new lighthouse was constructed at Michigan City. The lantern tower was located on the north end of the lighthouse. It housed a fixed light with a fifth-order Fresnel Lens, which could be seen at a distance of 15 miles.

At age 37, Harriet Colfax took up the lighthouse keeper's position with her companion and life-long friend, Ann Hartwell. Her appointment was arranged by her cousin, Schuyler Colfax, a member of Congress and later, Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant. Harriet served as the last keeper of the Old Michigan City Lighthouse. She was responsible for lighting the light for 43 years, from 1861 until her retirement in 1904.

In 1871, the first beacon light was installed on the east pier. The east pierhead light was accessible by a 1,500-foot-long elevated "catwalk” and its light was the responsibility of the Michigan City Lightkeeper. The lightkeeper climbed to the lanterns twice each night to trim the wick, polish the lens, and refuel the light. In cold weather, the oil would sometimes congeal before the keeper reached the light. The keeper would reheat the oil and take it back out to the light. At daybreak, the keeper would extinguish the light. So diligently did Harriet perform her tasks that the Michigan City Lighthouse became known throughout the Great Lakes as "Old Faithful."

Three years later, the pier beacon on the east side of Trail Creek was moved to the west pier which extended an additional 500 feet into Lake Michigan. In all weather, Miss Colfax would have to row across Trail Creek to the tower to fuel the light. Occasionally, Harriet was able to hire an assistant keeper who lived on the western side of the creek to maintain the light for her.

On October 20, 1904, the lantern was moved from the Old Michigan City Lighthouse to the newly constructed East Pierhead Lighthouse, where its beacon shone until 1980. The Old Michigan City Lighthouse was remodeled in 1904 and expanded into living quarters for the keeper and two assistants. Today, it is a museum that houses the original fifth-order Fresnel Lens from those two Michigan City lighthouses.

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Old Michigan City Light and Museum

The Abraham Lincoln funeral train stopped in Michigan City on May 1, 1865, probably thanks to lighthouse keeper Harriet Colfax’s cousin, U.S Congressman, and future U.S. Vice President, Schuyler Colfax.

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Old Michigan City Light and Museum

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Old Michigan City Light and Museum

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