Then & Now: Minneapolis Shoal Light Station

As Escanabans anxiously await the spring thaw, I've begun thinking more about the abundance of water surrounding the city and its influence on the area. Early Escanaba was famous for its massive ore docks. Escanaba's excellent location, of course, was what made it all possible. All that water and all those ships made lighthouses a necessity.

Escanaba's most famous lighthouse will always be the iconic Sand Point, often used as a symbol of the city. Since 1938, the harbor has also featured an automated crib light to guide ships in and out. The lighthouse we'll focus on in this post is the Minneapolis Shoal Light Station, located a distance away from Escanaba but vital to its shipping heritage nonetheless.     

Nineteenth century shipping traffic into Escanaba, Michigan went by way of Peninsula Point; to guide the traffic there, the Peninsula Point Light was established in 1856. However, by the 1930s, shipping traffic had shifted far south of the point, and in response funds were appropriated for the Minneapolis Shoal Light Station in 1932. Construction was completed in 1934, and the light was first lit in 1935. The station was later automated in 1979, and is still in use.
- from 'Minneapolis Shoal Light Station' on Wikipedia

This post, however, is really less about the history of the lighthouse and more about a new feature we're calling Then & Now, which will focus on one of our cards and provide a view of how the structure or location looks today. We plan to add more of these posts in the future. Enjoy!

Lighthouse, Escanaba, Mich.

Minneapolis Shoal Light Station