Big Red Lighthouse a Popluar Tourist Attraction
Near Holland Michigan
Photos by Harold Merton
By Harold Merton
One of the major tourist attractions in the State of Michigan is their
collection of nostalgic lighthouses. They are dotted around the water
that borders the state and many tourists make a point of visiting as many
of the lighthouses as they can over a period of years.
Holland, Michigan is the home of one of the most colorful lighthouses
in Michigan fondly known as "Big Red". The harbor is just a
few miles from the downtown area and was a "must see" on our
trip. I had seen pictures and models of "Big Red" and wanted
to photograph it. We decided that on our way out of town after the Tulip
Festival we would
drive there. It was a little difficult to reach with the RV because the
tip area near the harbor is now State Park land and they charge a daily
admission fee that we felt was a little steep just to look at a lighthouse.
They allowed us to turn around in their lot and head back out of the area.
We could return and walk in for a visit but it was to be in the harbor
area not the beaches or other parts of the State Park. Down the road we
found a spot at the side of the road big enough for our RV so we parked
there and then walked back to the harbor area. There we found "Big
Red" sitting at the entrance to the harbor. This lighthouse has a
great history. The first lighthouse built at this location was a small,
square wooden structure erected in 1872. In 1880 the lighthouse service
installed a new light atop a metal pole in a protective cage. The oil
lantern was lowered by pulleys for service. At the turn of the century
a steel tower was built for the light and in 1907 the present structure
was erected. Named the Holland Harbor South Pierhead Lighthouse, it has
a gabled roof that reflects the Dutch influence in the area. The lighthouse
popularly
referred to as "Big Red" was automated in 1932. When the U.S.
Coast Guard recommended that it be abandoned in 1970, citizens circulated
petitions to rescue it. The Holland Harbor Lighthouse Historical Commission
was then organized to preserve and restore the landmark. They have done
an excellent job! It sits today proudly declaring its heritage as one
of Michigan's most popular lighthouses. The adjacent State Park has a
camping section with water and electrical hookups but when you add the
mandatory daily out-of-state visitors fee to their daily rate for water
and electric hookups their price is just too high for what they offer.
If you add in the premium you have to pay for the U.S. Dollar it is even
worse. Big Red is a Michigan icon and something we were happy we visited.
Veldheer's Tulip Gardens, Holland Michigan
Holland Michigan Hosts Visitors at Annual Tulip Time Festival