Make A Donation
Lighthouses around the Great Lakes are viewed as national resources for their historic, cultural and scenic values. The lands surrounding the lighthouses also merit special attention because they provide important habitats for the hundreds of animal, bird and plant species that rely on the Great Lakes ecosystem. Please help save our lighthouses and make a donation today!
To donate online, click the button to the right.
To pay by mail, please send
a check or money order payable to The Michigan Lighthouse
Fund to:
Michigan Lighthouse Fund
P.O. Box 23203
Lansing, MI 48909-3203
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 Please Note:
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Educate Yourself
Read all you can on lighthouse history, preservation methods, and funding
sources. Become familiar with the laws and regulations governing the
transfer process and lighthouse ownership. Attend the various regional
and statewide workshops and conferences offered by the Michigan Lighthouse
Project and other lighthouse groups.
Visit Lighthouses
One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with lighthouses is to visit as many as you can. Tour their museums and climb the tower if open
to the public. Get a sense of the isolated life and work of the lightkeeper.
While you are there, offer a donation for the maintenance of the lighthouse.
Get Involved
Join a local lighthouse preservation group, and donate your time,
money, or services to the restoration and maintenance of the
facility. In addition, join national
and statewide nonprofit organizations directly interested in preserving historic
lighthouses. Contact the Michigan Lighthouse Project for information on the
various preservation groups that are members of the
Michigan Lighthouse Alliance. Buy a Lighthouse License Plate
With its striking red-and-white stripes, the White Shoal Lighthouse is set against the blue waters of Lake Michigan to symbolize the need to preserve Michigan’s lighthouses. The legend on the plate reads "SAVE OUR LIGHTS." A portion of the cost of this Michigan fund-raising license plate introduced in 2001 supports lighthouse preservation. Order your Michigan Lighthouse today!
Establish a Nonprofit Organization
If no lighthouse preservation group exists in your area or for your particular
lighthouse, start one yourself. Contact the Michigan Lighthouse Project for
information and guidance.
Network
Contact other groups that have successfully restored a lighthouse. Learn from
their experiences, both good and bad. Contact your national and state legislators
and make them aware of your interest in and concern for the future of Michigan’s
lighthouses. Convince your local government (city, township, or county) to
assume ownership of a lighthouse and to work closely with an incorporated
nonprofit preservation group. Mobilize community involvement in lighthouse
preservation. Spread the Word
Publicize your lighthouse preservation efforts. Tell your friends about the
crisis facing Michigan’s lighthouses. Contact the editor of your local
newspaper. No one will know you are out there if you do not tell them! Identify Needs
What needs to be done to preserve your lighthouse? Is it in good or poor condition?
Will it require stabilization? Once you have identified your needs, create
a plan and a budget. Remember that any plans for lighthouse rehabilitation
must follow guidelines established by the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for Rehabilitation, and should always be developed with a qualified
preservation consultant and along the parameters found in preservation manuals,
such as those published by the National Park Service. Fundraising
Sharpen your fundraising skills! Sponsor a fundraising event. In addition,
identify federal, state, and local funding sources and grants offered by
private foundations. Document
Record the lighthouse of your choice for posterity through written histories,
photographs, video, or other means.
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