On a Clear Day You Can See Canada

 

I took a couple of days off last week and J and I traveled to Paradise, Michigan to stay at Whitefish Point.

 

Panorama of Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum Campus -- Photo by Chris Winters

http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/whitefishpoint

Whitefish Point is located in Michigan's upper peninsula -- at the extreme southeastern end of Lake Superior.  It is a critical turning point for all vessel traffic entering and leaving Lake Superior.

The Whitefish Point Light Station was established by Congress in 1849.  It is the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior.

They have a museum dedicated to the ships who met their demise in these waters:

 

In 1975 29 men went down with the Edmund Fitzgerald  in the waters of Whitefish Point. Many of you may remember that  Gordon Lightfoot made this wreck famous when he released his song - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, in 1976.

The museum has many artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald, including the 200 lb. bronze bell   recovered by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society on July 4, 1995:

 

Here is J arriving at  the original U.S. Coast Guard barracks building, constructed in 1923 for the Whitefish Point Lifeboat Rescue Station.  It has been meticulously restored by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society with assistance from Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

 

 

There are only 5 rooms available each night. This was our room: Room 1: Station Engineer’s, queen bed second floor

The present light tower was constructed in 1861 during Abraham Lincoln's administration. This is the view of the lighthouse from our room right after the sunrise on Friday morning:

 

In addition to the  five rooms that can be rented each night, there is a living room shared by all:

 Where I spent an hour or so reading my current culinary mystery novel before retiring to my room for the evening.

J really enjoyed the community kitchen

 

which was stocked to the brim with breakfast/snack items:

We had a very enjoyable late afternoon cup of coffee together.

 

We also walked along the Lake Superior shoreline and picked rocks to bring home.  Many people were doing the same--I guess everyone wants some souvenir rocks. :)  I put some of mine on the deck as a reminder of our wonderful evening in the UP (upper peninsula):

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Whitefish Point.

  Unfortunately I was so busy collecting rocks that I did not take a picture of Lake Superior.  Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes.  On a clear day you can see Canada from the shores of Whitefish Point.