Lighthouse Reopening Ribbon Cutting

A grand opening event for the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse’s restoration was held Saturday at the station.  The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan.  Some 250 people, including state and local officials and members of the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light group attended the ribbon cutting The light station had been closed to the public since August 2008.   Following the ceremony, groups of people were being led on tours of the buildings in the light station as well as climbing to the top of the lighthouse’s tower.  According to David Brooks, chairman of the Friends of the Fort Gratiot Light, says the next big project will be to renovate the former Coast Guard building.  National Restoration, the contractor restoring the lighthouse, is expected to repaint the lighthouse at no cost as current paint has failed to adhere correctly to the brickwork.  The restoration of the lighthouse has been in the works for over 40 years.  Check out more pictures on the WGRT facebook page.