This 1800s Lighthouse In The Middle Of Lake Superior Is Still Being Used

I learned today that there's a place that's called the loniest spot in North America, and it's right here in Lake Superior.

Lake Superior is a vast body of water. Of course, you know it's the largest freshwater lake in the world, but did you know that it has a lighthouse in the middle of it?

Stannard Rock Lighthouse

It's called the Stannard Rock Lighthouse, and it is miles away from land. It's the most distant lighthouse from the shore in the United States and has been nicknamed "The Loniest Place in North America." That's crazy! It's also been called "The Rock."

The lighthouse was built on a shallow reef that's off Michigan's Upper Peninsula

It's over 140 years old.

The lighthouse was constructed all the way back in 1882. Lighthouses were used before GPS navigation to warn ships of shorelines and obstacles. The shallow reef where the Stannard Rock Lighthouse was constructed was a serious hazard for ships.

The loniest place in the world - can you imagine?

Back when this was built, they didn't have any type of communications. This was before TVs, the internet, or even the radio. There was nothing for the lighthouse operator to do besides sit and play cards or read when they weren't working.

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An Engineering Feat

As you can imagine, constructing a lighthouse 25 miles out in the middle of the world's largest freshwater lake was not an easy task. The work season started in May and ended in October. Many days of work were interrupted or lost due to weather.

Construction began in July of 1877 and was finally finished on July 4, 1882.

Read More: The Deepest Lake In Minnesota Was Used By Space Agency

Two Million Dollar Renovation Project Needed

A GoFundMe has been set up for a restoration project for the lighthouse. It needs work, and they hope to restore it to more habitable conditions so that it can remain in use for years to come. It's still used for weather monitoring and climate research. The unique location of the lighthouse makes it an instrumental weather facility.

Check out this video from a few years ago of a YouTuber checking out the lighthouse. You can see the toll Lake Superior has taken on the structure over the years.