The harbor at the entrance of the Grand River from Lake Michigan was the only deep
water harbor of refuge at the south end of Lake Michigan, so it became an important
port early in the nineteenth century. The inner light, originally built on the shore
in 1839, was moved and rebuilt in 1905. The companion light, at the end of the pier,
is a square building, also painted red. It is not only a lighthouse but also a fog
signal building, to assist ships who are in the vicinity during rough weather.
