Mackinaw City in Cheboygan County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Fog Signal Station
Mackinaw City Historical Pathway
By Cosmos Mariner, August 28, 2014
1. Fog Signal Station Marker
This interesting building with its tall chimney and copper roof was built in 1890, two years before the construction of the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse next door. It was built to house the large steam operated fog signal. The deep booming sound of the signal could be heard for miles in bad weather to guide ships when the beam from the lighthouses could not be seen.
The great fog signal was finally silenced when the Mackinac Bridge was built in 1957 and fitted with its own fog horn.
(photo captions)
• Old Mackinaw Point, from the dock.
• Fog Signal station, Old Mackinaw Point.
Erected by Mackinaw City Historical Pathway. (Marker Number 28.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 45° 47.273′ N, 84° 43.744′ W. Marker is in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Cheboygan County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Huron Avenue and Ducharme Street when traveling north. Marker is located along
August 28, 2014
2. Marker detail: John P. Campbell, the last lightkeeper at Old Mackinaw Point
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lighthouses of the Mackinac Straits (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Shipwrecks in the Straits (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Crossroads of the Great Lakes (about 300 feet away); Building Mighty Mac (about 400 feet away); Graveyard of the Deep (about 400 feet away); Alexander Henry 1739 - 1834 (about 500 feet away); Alexander Henry Park Kiosk (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.
Also see . . .
1. The Fog Whistle. Mackinac State Historic Parks entry:
A fog whistle was actually the first thing built at Old Mackinac Point, going into operation in 1890, two years before the lighthouse itself was completed. The original fog whistle consisted of a corrugated metal building housing two locomotive-style steam boilers. Two 10-inch diameter steam whistles were mounted above the roof. Only one whistle and boiler were used at a time, with the other maintained as a redundant backup system. In 1906 the Lighthouse Service replaced the original fog whistle building with a new brick structure housing the old machinery. (Submitted on August 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Fog Signal Station Marker
2. A Legal Battle at the Lighthouse. Mackinac State Historic Parks entry:
Today, visitors to Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse enter the site via the Fog Signal Building, constructed in 1906. The machinery originally housed inside powered fog whistles, and later air horns, to guide sailors during periods of poor visibility. The building itself, however, was only constructed after a 13-year legal dispute between the federal government and the Village of Mackinaw City. (Submitted on August 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
By Cosmos Mariner, July 20, 2011
4. Fog Signal Station
By Cosmos Mariner, August 28, 2014
5. Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse
By Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2017
6. Fog Signal Station
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 13, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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