The restorations will include exterior work, funded by the grant and interior work, funded by local fundraisers. 

The Port Austin Reef Lighthouse is receiving some major upgrades and changes starting this week, thanks to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The work is funded by a grant from MDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Program. The awarded money will cover $480,000 of the $610,000 project.

The historical lighthouse will receive both interior and exterior work. In compliance with the State Historical Preservation standards, the exterior project will include removing the vinyl from old window frames, replacing door frames and fog signal, installing new railings that are more historically accurate, and installing a generator.

The interior work will not be funded by the grant awarded from MDOT, but will instead be backed by local funds and fundraisers. Restoration will include redoing drywall, ceiling, wiring, and flooring work done in the lighthouse tower.

Back in 1988, Port Austin Reef Light Association President Lou Schillinger created the association dedicated to the restoration of maintenance of the Port Austin Reef Light Station. Starting later that year, major work was done, and the group was getting closer to its goal. Still today, the association continues to make major strides to the lighthouse, including helping with the current project.

Once the completion of the lighthouse project is complete, the plan is to institute a Lighthouse Keepers Program. The initiative is state based in which members will greet visitors and provide tours and information while also keeping up with basic facility maintenance, removing trash, and cleaning. Keepers are also awarded with two weeks of lodging in the historic lighthouse’s respective living quarters.

Work began Monday, Sept. 19 and will continue all the way through the rest of this year and much into next. The project work will carry on until the winter season, resuming in the spring. The completion of the project is be expected next fall in September 2023.