In the late seventeenth century the straits of Mackinac were the site of considerable activity by the Europeans. Later on the French established a mission and the fort of St. Ignace. The fort was later abandoned and a new one was opened in 1714 on the south of the Island straits and this became the centre of the fur trade in the upper lakes - it eventually became the site of the Mcgulpin Point Lighthouse.
In the late nineteenth century it was decided that a light was needed to guide sea traffic around the straits. A lighthouse was finally established in 1869 at McGulpin's Point this marked the south western edge of the straits - but because it couldn't be seen by all the ships that approached from the West it was eventually decided that the siting was inadequate. McGulpin's Point was an octagonal brick structure with attached support butresses and light keeper's quarters. The building had a full basement area built in with an oil storage room this was connected to the living quarters by a cast iron spiral staircase. The living quarters had two bedrooms, a parlor and a kitchen.
In the years following there were numerous requests for an extra light or for a light to replace the existing one. A further lighthouse was finally established in 1895 and this marked the north western edge of the straits.The McGulpin's Point lighthouse remained operational until 1906. The lighthouse was eventually sold to a private owner and remains a private residence to this day.
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