Great Lakes
Preserved remnants of the Great Lakes life-saving stations operated by the U.S. Life-Saving Service in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some are now operated as museums, others are owned by non-profits or businesses. A few were converted to modern U.S. Coast Guard stations. If you operate a life-saving station as a museum, please put This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on your mailing list.
Browse a list of lighthouses and life-saving stations where you can volunteer as a lighthouse keeper or just stay overnight.
Calumet Harbor Lifeboat Station
The Calumet Life-Saving Station, also called the South Chicago Life-Saving Station, is part of US Coast Guard Station Calumet Harbor.
Grand Marais Harbor of Refuge
The Harbor of Refuge house was built in 1908 by the U.S. Life Saving Service as the Lightkeeper's dwelling. It was constructed at a cost of $5,000, and is a duplicate to the station at the Munising Range Lights. U.S. Coast Guard families lived in the home.
Grand Marais Lifeboat Station
Established in 1899, the current Grand Marais Life-Saving Station was constructed in 1938 and deactivated in 1981. The station is now within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Munising Lifeboat Station
Established in 1932, the Munising Life-Saving Station, also known as the Sand Point Life-Saving Station, was operated by the US Coast Guard until 1960. It is now the headquarters for the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
North Manitou Island Life-Saving Station
Established and built in 1854, the North Manitou Island Life-Saving Station was deactivated in 1939. It is now within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Pointe aux Barques Life-Saving Station
Established in 1876, the Pointe aux Barques Life-Saving Station is now deactivated. The building was moved to Huron City Museum in 1964.
Racine Harbor Lighthouse & Life-Saving Station
Established and built in 1866, the Racine Harbor Lighthouse & Life-Saving Station, located at the mouth of the Root River, was deactivated in 1903. The light is atop a skeletal steel tower, and the site is now on private property.
Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station
Established in 1902, the Sleeping Bear Point Life-Saving Station was deactivated in 1942 and is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
South Manitou Island Life-Saving Station
Established in 1901, the South Manitou Island Life-Saving Station was deactivated in 1958. It is now part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
St. Joseph Life-Saving Station
Established in 1874, the St. Joseph Life-Saving Station is now Station St. Joseph of the US Coast Guard.
Two Rivers Life-Saving Station
The Two Rivers Life-Saving Station is part of the Rogers Street Fishing Village museum.
Two Rivers Lifeboat Station
Believed established in the Civil War era, the current Two Rivers Lifeboat Station was constructed in 1909. It is still an active Coast Guard unit, known as Station Two Rivers.
Whitefish Point Life-Saving Station
Established in 1923 on the grounds of the Whitefish Point Lighthouse, the Whitefish Point Lifeboat Station is now owned by a local museum. Accommodations for overnight and/or long-term stays available. (Daytime photo courtesy Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. Photo by Chris Winters.)