Nate B
@warpedhorizon.bsky.social
Architecture/technology/transportation geek
Twin Cities Suburbs He/Him
Twin Cities Suburbs He/Him
Totally unsurprising that the inventor is from Wisconsin
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Totally unsurprising that the inventor is from Wisconsin
I also tried to get some shots of St. Paul with the aurora, but bailed about 20 minutes too early. Still a cool shot though, with just a hint of red and green visible on the right.
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 AM
I also tried to get some shots of St. Paul with the aurora, but bailed about 20 minutes too early. Still a cool shot though, with just a hint of red and green visible on the right.
Tonight was the most spectacular aurora I have ever seen. I was able to see reds and greens, clearly, even through streetlights. And I found a spot less than 10 minutes from my new place where I can get shots like this.
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Tonight was the most spectacular aurora I have ever seen. I was able to see reds and greens, clearly, even through streetlights. And I found a spot less than 10 minutes from my new place where I can get shots like this.
Oh, and the asterisk, the ruin of the Minnesota Point Lighthouse still stands near Duluth, and since it was built in 1858 it predates the current light at Whitefish Point by 3 years. Thanks to McGhiever on Wikipedia for this shot, when I visited last year it was too overgrown to see. (44/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Oh, and the asterisk, the ruin of the Minnesota Point Lighthouse still stands near Duluth, and since it was built in 1858 it predates the current light at Whitefish Point by 3 years. Thanks to McGhiever on Wikipedia for this shot, when I visited last year it was too overgrown to see. (44/44)
And my final lighthouse of the trip, Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba. This one also has a replica fourth-order fresnel lens, and is lovingly cared for by the local Delta County Historical Society. (42/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
And my final lighthouse of the trip, Sand Point Lighthouse in Escanaba. This one also has a replica fourth-order fresnel lens, and is lovingly cared for by the local Delta County Historical Society. (42/44)
The museum has some very cool artifacts, including a handcrafted model of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and some fun dioramas. Just don't ask about the mannequin in the bathtub. (41/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
The museum has some very cool artifacts, including a handcrafted model of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and some fun dioramas. Just don't ask about the mannequin in the bathtub. (41/44)
Suel Choix is still an active aid to navigation, but unusually you are still able to visit the lantern room. And it gets points for being the only lighthouse I saw that had a birdhouse of the lighthouse. (40/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Suel Choix is still an active aid to navigation, but unusually you are still able to visit the lantern room. And it gets points for being the only lighthouse I saw that had a birdhouse of the lighthouse. (40/44)
Seul Choix Pointe Light Station sits near the very top of Lake Michigan, and is home to a lovely museum operated by the local Gulliver Historic society. The name is French for “only choice”, since it's the only natural harbor for many miles. (39/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Seul Choix Pointe Light Station sits near the very top of Lake Michigan, and is home to a lovely museum operated by the local Gulliver Historic society. The name is French for “only choice”, since it's the only natural harbor for many miles. (39/44)
It was replaced by Minneapolis Shoal Light, seen from about 6 miles away. This shoal is named for the wooden steamship 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴 that ran around on it in 1898. (38/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
It was replaced by Minneapolis Shoal Light, seen from about 6 miles away. This shoal is named for the wooden steamship 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴 that ran around on it in 1898. (38/44)
We are in the home stretch now, with the rest of the Lake Michigan lights I saw. Peninsula Point Lighthouse served from 1867 to 1936, then the keeper's house burned in 1959 and now only the tower remains. (37/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
We are in the home stretch now, with the rest of the Lake Michigan lights I saw. Peninsula Point Lighthouse served from 1867 to 1936, then the keeper's house burned in 1959 and now only the tower remains. (37/44)
And Round Island Passage Light replaced it in 1948. This light was remote controlled from a keepers house on Mackinac Island. One of the Viking Cruise Ships can be seen in the distance. (36/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
And Round Island Passage Light replaced it in 1948. This light was remote controlled from a keepers house on Mackinac Island. One of the Viking Cruise Ships can be seen in the distance. (36/44)
Round Island Lighthouse marks the south side of the passage that leads between Round Island and Mackinac Island, guiding ships towards the Straits of Mackinac. (35/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Round Island Lighthouse marks the south side of the passage that leads between Round Island and Mackinac Island, guiding ships towards the Straits of Mackinac. (35/44)
Bois Blanc Island had multiple lighthouses, this one served from 1867 to 1924. Sometime after that its simple steel replacement was built closer to the lake. (34/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Bois Blanc Island had multiple lighthouses, this one served from 1867 to 1924. Sometime after that its simple steel replacement was built closer to the lake. (34/44)
Poe Reef Light marks the north side of the passage, and the keeper of this lighthouse also took care of Fourteen Foot Shoal Light. Both lights are still active aids to navigation despite their condition. This light was sold by the GSA in 2019 but I can’t seem to find who purchased it. (33/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Poe Reef Light marks the north side of the passage, and the keeper of this lighthouse also took care of Fourteen Foot Shoal Light. Both lights are still active aids to navigation despite their condition. This light was sold by the GSA in 2019 but I can’t seem to find who purchased it. (33/44)
It also took us out a couple of isolated reef lighthouses, the first being Fourteen Foot Shoal Light. This light marks the south side of the passage south of Bois Blanc Island. It was sold to a nonprofit in 2017, but they have struggled with upkeep and only the Cormorants visit regularly. (32/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
It also took us out a couple of isolated reef lighthouses, the first being Fourteen Foot Shoal Light. This light marks the south side of the passage south of Bois Blanc Island. It was sold to a nonprofit in 2017, but they have struggled with upkeep and only the Cormorants visit regularly. (32/44)
The cruise took me out onto Lake Huron for the first time as an adult. Cheboygan is one of the first stops, to see the range lights plus the old crib light, which was moved from a crib in the harbor to shore in 1984. I didn’t get a close shot of it unfortunately. (31/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
The cruise took me out onto Lake Huron for the first time as an adult. Cheboygan is one of the first stops, to see the range lights plus the old crib light, which was moved from a crib in the harbor to shore in 1984. I didn’t get a close shot of it unfortunately. (31/44)
I also visited the nearby McGulpin Point Lighthouse, which was replaced by the Mackinac Point Lighthouse way back in 1906, was seemingly well cared for in private hands until the local County purchased it in 2008, restored it and opened it to the public. (30/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I also visited the nearby McGulpin Point Lighthouse, which was replaced by the Mackinac Point Lighthouse way back in 1906, was seemingly well cared for in private hands until the local County purchased it in 2008, restored it and opened it to the public. (30/44)
I crossed into the Lower Peninsula for a day, to do a few things in Mackinaw City including a lighthouse cruise. Before the cruise I stopped at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, with its unusual ornamental details. (29/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I crossed into the Lower Peninsula for a day, to do a few things in Mackinaw City including a lighthouse cruise. Before the cruise I stopped at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, with its unusual ornamental details. (29/44)
One more bonus light for Superior- from Point Iroquois you can see its Canadian replacement, Gros Cap Reefs Light. It was built in 1953, and remained staffed until the 1980s. (28/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
One more bonus light for Superior- from Point Iroquois you can see its Canadian replacement, Gros Cap Reefs Light. It was built in 1953, and remained staffed until the 1980s. (28/44)
And last for Lake Superior, Point Iroquois Light Station. This one is actually still managed by the Federal Government, but the Forestry Service, as part of Hiawatha National Forest. (27/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
And last for Lake Superior, Point Iroquois Light Station. This one is actually still managed by the Federal Government, but the Forestry Service, as part of Hiawatha National Forest. (27/44)
At Whitefish point is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where you can see the bell from the SS 𝘌𝘥𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘻𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘥, plus many other artifacts. Whether the acquisition of those artifacts is grave robbing or not is left up to the visitor to decide. (26/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
At Whitefish point is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, where you can see the bell from the SS 𝘌𝘥𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘵𝘻𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘥, plus many other artifacts. Whether the acquisition of those artifacts is grave robbing or not is left up to the visitor to decide. (26/44)
Whitefish Point Lighthouse is a name many will recognize, though it was out of service on that fateful day 50 years ago. Despite its almost modern appearance it is actually the second-oldest standing lighthouse on Lake Superior*, it was built in 1861, replacing the 1849 first lighthouse. (25/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Whitefish Point Lighthouse is a name many will recognize, though it was out of service on that fateful day 50 years ago. Despite its almost modern appearance it is actually the second-oldest standing lighthouse on Lake Superior*, it was built in 1861, replacing the 1849 first lighthouse. (25/44)
I mentioned Grand Island earlier, before the range lights went up the Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse was used to guide ships into Munising harbor. In 1913 this lighthouse was sold as surplus, and today can be seen on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore cruises. (24/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I mentioned Grand Island earlier, before the range lights went up the Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse was used to guide ships into Munising harbor. In 1913 this lighthouse was sold as surplus, and today can be seen on Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore cruises. (24/44)
Confusingly there are two Sand Point Lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula, this this the one on Superior near the town of Baraga. (23/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Confusingly there are two Sand Point Lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula, this this the one on Superior near the town of Baraga. (23/44)
Before the Lower Entrance Light went up on the Keweenaw Waterway in 1920 the Portage River Lighthouse helped guide ships into the waterway. The family that purchased it in 2023 is blogging their restoration efforts here: www.portageriverlighthouse.com/post/jacobsv... (22/44)
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Before the Lower Entrance Light went up on the Keweenaw Waterway in 1920 the Portage River Lighthouse helped guide ships into the waterway. The family that purchased it in 2023 is blogging their restoration efforts here: www.portageriverlighthouse.com/post/jacobsv... (22/44)