Whitefish Point, Michigan

Sunday, we went to Whitefish Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse was established in 1849 and is the oldest active light on Lake Superior. It is now run electronically by the Coast Guard from Sault Ste Marie. The Keepers Quarters has been fully restored and open for tours. They even have wax figures of the last lightkeeper and his family placed all about the quarters. These was figures look so real it was unbelieveable. The particular lightkeeper depicted in this lighthouse was a lightkeeper for 40 years. The going salary was $600 per year. The Shipwreck Museum is also located at this site. They had artifacts and exhibits of the various shipwrecks in Lake Superior which told the stories of the sailors and ships. They also had a theater which showed a video of the famous Edmond Fitzgerald shipwreck. It was so touching. They had actual family members in this video telling their stories. The wreck happened in 1975 but they were never able to retrieve it or get to it until 1995 twenty years later. As a tribute to the sailors, they were able to retrieve the ship's bell which can be seen in the museum and in its place they lowered a replica of the bell with each of the sailor's names on it. One man told a story in the video that said when he went to Vietnam, his brother assured him if anything happened to him he would go to Vietnam and bring him home. Well went the ship went down the brother was a sailor on the ship and he always wanted to bring his brother home. Twenty years later having his name put on the bell was the only way he could honor his brother. It was such a touching story. In all there have been 6,000 ships lost on the Great Lakes and 30,000 men and women and children lost to these shipwrecks but the Edmund Fitzgerald remains the most famous and mysterious. During the storm it was being followed by another ship and the two captains were talking to each other and then all of a sudden it just dissappeared while the other ship made it. It lies sunken just 17 miles from Whitefish Point. We walked out to the beach in front of the lighthouse and the water was beautiful, and calm. It was amazing how this lake can change to a death trap during a fog. Jim took what he calls the butt pic above. After this wonderful visit, we stopped off at a casino on the way back to the campground. It was a nice casino, but none of us came out a winner. In fact I think I was the biggest loser, $25. We got back to the campground and enjoyed another happy hour as we watched the ships cruising by. We went to dinner at this resturant called the Antler's just down the street. This resturant was so much fun. They had various animals mounted on the walls and ceilings as well as hundreds of antlers. When anyone from out of state comes in or has a birthday, they welcome them by pulling these ropes that sound off various ship horns and lights. It was a riot. Of course we got a welcome. We all agreed this was one of the best resturants we have been to so far on this trip, but we keep thinking that every city that we stop in. I guess you can see we are eating very well on this trip. Well until later...........