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Are you interested in lighthouses on, or near, the Great Lakes? What about one on the inland lake of Lake Charlevoix in BOYNE CITY, MICHIGAN? I am fascinated by these historic structures. Their stories helped shape water transportation and vessel safety throughout Michigan. BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE is one such intriguing lighthouse!

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“Living in a small town…is like living in a large family of rather uncongenial relations. Sometimes it’s fun, and sometimes it’s perfectly awful, but it’s always good for you. People in large towns are like only-children.”

― Joyce Dennys, Henrietta Sees It Through: More News from the Home Front 1942-1945

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MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

Government’s involvement in safe navigation began early in American history. The first lighthouse was established on the east coast in 1716 at Little Brewster Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. 73 years later there were a dozen active beacons in place.

On the Great Lakes, the first lighthouses were established around 1815 at Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario and the Presque Isle light on Lake Erie. Many followed suit in the years to follow!

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As commerce boomed on the Great Lakes, the number of lighthouses commensurately increased. By 1865, there were approximately seven on Lake Ontario, perhaps twelve on Lake Huron, approximately twenty-six on Lake Michigan and nearly fifteen on Lake Superior. Each new lighthouse was a step towards more safety. They warned sailors of dangerous shores and reefs and assisted navigation by guiding them to the safety of a harbor.

The PETOSKEY BREAKWALL and CHARLEVOIX LIGHTHOUSE blog posts are just as fascinating reads centered on small town America, if you are interested!

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A small town is a place where there’s no place to go where you shouldn’t.

~Burt Bacharach

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“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.”

– ANNE LAMOTT

MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

HISTORY OF BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

The Boyne City lighthouse is one of these structures that was added as an iconic symbol of days past and represents Boyne City as a mariner’s town. Boyne City is located at the southeast end of the east arm of Lake Charlevoix. This is where the Boyne River enters the lake.

The earliest settlers, Irish immigrants John and Harriet Miller, named this river (and subsequently this town) after a river from Ireland when they eventually settled. Harriet Miller had a dream that led them on a hunt for a “bear shaped lake” to place their cabin. Boyne City is where this dream led them.

Subsequently, the industrial revolution had its impact on Boyne City too. The many dense forests of Northern Michigan along with plentiful water resources to move the lumber efficiently led to a booming lumber industry. A bi-product of lumbering was the hemlock bark which was plentiful! Hemlock bark was used for tanning leather.

A massive tannery evolved on the shores of Lake Charlevoix in Boyne City, Michigan. It is said that this tannery would annually produce six million pounds of shoe leather.

Clay products evolved also during this time. Additionally, bricks were manufactured here. So, railroads grew to ship the manufactured products throughout the Midwest States from this 1900s Northern Michigan industrial booming location on Lake Charlevoix.

This town’s historical significance is listed in the National Register of Historic Places! HISTORICAL BOYNE CITY MAP & PHOTO TOUR.

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“I am lighthouse rather than lifeboat. I do not rescue, but instead help others to find their own way to shore, guiding them by my example.”

– UNKNOWN

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MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS

Do lighthouse keepers still exists? What a fascinating history these people provide! Each story from each lighthouse location has intrigue and wonder. I encourage you to listen to a story keeper’s recount of a historical lighthouse near you! Each story is filled with what these keepers witnessed and provided to vessels on the lakes. It is such a rich history!

The structure, which houses the city harbor master’s office in its base, is shaped to look like a lighthouse, but is not an official aid to navigation.

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 “A small town is a place where the news circulates before the newspaper does.”

– Evan Esar

MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

WANDERING BOYNE CITY

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Boyne City is one of those sweet, cute Northern Michigan resort towns free of “Big Box” style shopping and provide maybe one or two fast food restaurant choices. It has two stop lights, usually light traffic, and most everyone knows the other person walking down the street except in June, July and August until the tourists return to their home bases.

This is my husband’s home town. My children have grown calling this their hometown. This is where all their childhood memories were made. According to the latest census. Boyne City has a population of 3,711 residents that live there all year long. The population in the summer is vastly different as many summer homes sit vacant during the long, cold winters of Northern Michigan unless the residents return for a ski weekend. Many second homes are located in Charlevoix County.

Tourism is a blessing and a curse. Without tourism this area would suffer dramatically in it’s commerce. Neighboring BOYNE MOUNTAIN located in Boyne Falls, Michigan draws summer golfing and winter skiing tourism.

Below is a 365 degree view of the marina, park, and lighthouse.

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“Lighthouses are not just stone, brick, metal, and glass. There’s a human story at every lighthouse; that’s the story I want to tell.”

– ELINOR DEWIRE

MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

LAKE CHARLEVOIX WEBCAMS AVAILABLE

The Lake Charlevoix Association in conjunction with the City installed a webcam at the marina in the lighthouse.  It is set up to take photos and posts to the association’s website.  Click here to check it out!

A local real estate agency, Lynda’s Real Estate, also provides a live streaming webcam overlooking the mouth of the Boyne River and out into beautiful Lake Charlevoix.  Click here.

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“If you approach townspeople with the idea that they’re unique treasures, you’re likely to find individuals who will dazzle you, often their small-town cover of plain brown paper.“

~Wanda Urbanska

MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

ADVENTURES OF THE LAKES

Boyne City is best known for its Micro-Brewery restaurants, views, and accommodations for travelers to enjoy. It is not uncommon to see famous celebrities dining locally with their families enjoying this hidden gem of a town.

Each Brewery provides a distinct selection of interesting brews for the consumer to enjoy along with fun authentic restaurant menu. A Pub crawl from brewery to brewery (nine local pubs participating) is enjoyed around St. Patrick’s Day and the main street closes down for Boyne City Craft Beer Block Party annually.

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“Probably the most common mistake newcomers to small towns make is in assuming that the community and its institutions are backward and that you, having come from the cutting edge of culture and life, naturally know better, have experienced better or simply deserve better.“

~Wanda Urbanska

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MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE SERIES – BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

OTHER ADVENTURES NEAR BOYNE CITY’S LIGHTHOUSE

How about capturing a sunrise, early morning, with the promise of a new day prepared before you? What about a sunset shimmering on the sparkling crystal clear waters of Lake Charlevoix, Michigan? Beaches of the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan are pristine, sparkling Caribbean-blue freshwater gems. What a treasure to enjoy! What a gift from God!

God’s inspiration can be found by simply looking around and observing all of His blessings abounding, especially here in this tranquil, beautiful location. Observe the quiet swim of the ducks as they float by…

However you find God’s inspiration each day, allow it to serve as a reminder that He is in control. Trust in Him, fear not, and replace any doubts you have in Him with prayer, asking Him to teach you to trust more and more each day. The God that created the heavens and the earth and the lakes and the sun will watch over, protect, and guide you each day if you only ask for Him to be a part of your life. Grow in your faith and trust in Him. He awaits you. He is willing to walk beside you through all of your life adventures…even exploring breakwaters, small towns and lighthouses!

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We hope this has inspired you to discover new adventures while exploring break-walls and lighthouses as we have discovered. I am interested if you have a favorite small town or a lighthouse that you have explored? Please leave a comment below to recommend an adventure exploring ruins or a snorkel adventure that you’d like for us to try out on our next Inspirational Travel Adventure!! I am so excited to hear from you!

Did you notice some affiliate links along the way?? If you plan to buy any of the products we mentioned or search for other purchases, please consider clicking through our link on this page. It won’t cost you a dime, and it will help our website continue running and offering you further inspirational travel adventures!

Inspirationally Yours,

Barbara

BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/

ABOUT ME:

A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her high school/college athlete football sons.

WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com

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