Day 213 – August 5, 2022 – Alpena, MI to Presque Isle, MI – Presque Isle State Harbor

  • 39.6 miles
  • 3 hours 17 minutes
  • 9.3 mph average speed

We picked up a hitch-hiker on our trip today:

We checked out loaner bikes with Misty and Susie and rode to the “old” and “new” lighthouses. The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse was completed in 1840 and is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes. It is also the shortest at 38 feet tall.The New Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1870! It is the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes that is open to the public and stands 110 feet tall.

The last keeper of the old lighthouse was Pat Garrity who was appointed by President Lincoln. Garrity’s wife, three sons and daughter all served as lighthouse keepers in the area making them the second longest keeper family in U.S. history.

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse Keepers House
Old Presque Isle Lighthouse

On the catwalk at the top of the lighthouse

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse and Keepers House

Susie and Misty approaching the New Presque Isle Lighthouse. The keeper’s house in this photo was added in 1905. Prior to that, the Garrity family lived in the house attached to the lighthouse shown below.

New Presque Isle Lighthouse

We climbed the 138 steps to the top of the lighthouse for a spectacular view.

It was so calm and peaceful in the marina, especially since we did not have good cell or wifi service. Misty and Darrel had us over for a delicious steak dinner our last night there.

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