Historic Restoration at Whitefish Point

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Restored 1937 Fog Signal Building is inspected by officials of the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, 2006

Since obtaining a license to conduct museum operations at Whitefish Point from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1983, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society has been continuously raising money to restore all of the nine historic structures on this National Historic Site.  Full ownership of the site was patented to the Shipwreck Society from the Federal Government in 1996.  To date, the Shipwreck Society has successfully completed restoration of:

1861 Lightkeepers Quarters
1861 Oil House
1910 Alcohol House
1923 Lookout Tower
1923 Surfboat House
1923 Crews Quarters Building
1937 Fog Signal Building

Restoration of these structures remains in progress:

1861 Light Tower
1929 U.S. Navy Radio Station Barracks Building

Major funding for historic restoration and exhibits has been generously provided by:

Federal Highway Administration
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Michigan Department of Transportation
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program
Michigan Coastal Management Program
Michigan Bicentennial Lighthouse Fund
Americana Foundation

The above grants have all required a private match, typically on a 1 to 1 basis. The only source the Shipwreck Society has for matching funds is the private sector.

Contributions to historic restoration projects at Whitefish Point are tax deductible. For information on making a contribution, please visit the contact information section of this page.

Need: Roof Restoration of Navy Radio Building

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Deteriorating Chimney of Navy Radio Station Barracks Buildling

One example of a current restoration need is the deteriorating chimney and roof of the 1929 U.S. Navy Radio Station Barracks Building.  This building was purchased by the U.S. Lighthouse Service from the Navy, acquired by the U.S. Coast Guard, and moved from the Radio Station property - 1000 yards south of the light station - to its present location in 1937.  The Coast Guard converted it to an Assistant Chief's Quarters.  It is now used as the Shipwreck Museum Video Theatre building and for display of the MDOT Underwater Documentation Project exhibit.