Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum
Paradise, MI
The oldest active light on Lake Superior and a museum that displays the bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Also a major spring bird migration spot.
Whitefish Point Light and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum stand on the southeastern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan, just over 11 miles (about 18 km) north of Paradise at the end of Whitefish Point Road. The light was first lit in 1849, and the present steel lattice tower from 1861 is 76 feet (23 m) tall and is considered the oldest active light on Lake Superior. The Coast Guard operated the station until 1996.
The museum displays finds from wrecks in the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. Its centerpiece is the bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank in a storm in 1975; the bell was recovered on July 4, 1995. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, founded by divers in 1978, opened its first exhibits in 1985. The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory has also monitored migrating birds since 1978, and the point is an important stopover in spring and fall. Ship watchers come here too. According to its website, the museum is open daily from May 1 to October 31 (as of October 2026) and closed after that until spring.
- Nearest town
- Paradise, MI
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 46.7712, -84.9573
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Andrus Lake State Forest CampgroundCampsite6 mi from Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum
- Shelldrake Dam State Forest CampgroundCampsite6 mi from Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum
- Tahquamenon Falls Visitor CenterCampsite16 mi from Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum
- Bodi Lake State Forest CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck MuseumTentsCaravans
- Mouth of Two Hearted River State Forest CampgroundCampsite23 mi from Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck MuseumTentsDrinking water
- Pike Lake State Forest Campground-LuceCampsite23 mi from Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck MuseumTentsDrinking water
All campsites in Michigan · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum?
Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum is in Paradise, MI, at GPS 46.7712, -84.9573. It is about 19 mi from Pancake Bay.
Can you camp near Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Andrus Lake State Forest Campground, about 6 mi away; within 25 mi there are 11 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum?
Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Tunnel of Trees and Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula.
What is there to see near Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum?
Places worth a stop nearby: Tahquamenon Falls (20 mi), Soo Locks (34 mi), Arch Rock (65 mi) and Fort Mackinac (66 mi).
When is the best time to visit Whitefish Point Light and Shipwreck Museum?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)