Michigan museum fighting feds to keep lighthouse lens

The Associated Press and the a — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:54:00 +0000

PORT AUSTIN, Mich. (AP) - The operator of a museum in Michigan's Thumb wants to keep a rare 19th century lighthouse lens.

The federal government is suing Huron City Museums, saying it lacks approval to store and display an old lens that was used in the Pointe Aux Barques lighthouse on Lake Huron. The U.S. Coast Guard gave it to the city of Harbor Beach in 1970s under certain conditions.

Would you like to own a Great Lakes lighthouse?

Mark Brush — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:00:58 +0000

You've got 1 day 3 hours left to put your bid on the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light in Fairport Harbor, Ohio on Lake Erie.

Current bid is $39,500 (you might need to scrape a little paint).

Or if living in a red tube is your idea of fun, you might consider the Kenosha North Pierhead Light on Lake Michigan in southeast Wisconsin. The auction for this light closes tomorrow as well, July 13.

The Washington Post has a story on the federal government's efforts to auction off old, out-of-date lighthouses that no longer serve as navigational aids because of the advent of radar, unmanned light towers, and satellite navigation.

They first try to sell the lighthouses to groups or other public entities that will preserve the lighthouse for historical purposes. If that doesn't work, they go up for public auction.

Right now, the U.S. General Services Administration wants to give away 12 historic lighthouses to state or local entities, nonprofit corporations, historic preservation groups, or community development organizations.

Four of these historic lighthouses are on the Great Lakes.