Point Iroquois Lighthouse, MI 2023
We’re proud to announce our return to the iconic Point Iroquois Lighthouse to restore the interior during this next phase!
PROJECT PARTNER: Hiawatha National Forest
SESSION DATES: September 10-15, September 17-22, and September 24-29
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Erin Crooks
CREW LEADER: Melissa Elbert!
Project Site Description & History
The Point Iroquois Lighthouse sits along the Whitefish Bay at the eastern most point of Lake Superior. French explorers/colonizers began occupying the area in 1620 and in 1622, there was a notable battle between the Ojibwe and Iroquois for control of the point, which the Iroquois lost. Referencing this battle, the Algonkian name for the point, “Nadouenigoning,” is a portmanteau of the words “Nadone” (Iroquois) and “Akron” (bone). Two hundred years later, in the mid-1800s, copper and iron ore were discovered here, which secured the point’s fate as a strategically important place.
On September 20, 1857, two years after a wooden lighthouse and keepers’ residence were constructed, a guiding light shone over the channel for the first time. This first light illuminated the watery highway for 107 years, during which time the original wood buildings were replaced with brick constructs. It is estimated that this channel, running up St. Mary’s River and connecting goods that traversed the frigid Lake Superior to the hub of Sault Ste. Marie, was at one point the busiest in the world. However, time and technology march on, and by the 1960s this beacon was replaced by an automatic light, stationed nearby at Gros Cap in Ontario. The Point Iroquois Lighthouse, by now an anachronism, earned its place in history and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
HistoriCorps is thrilled to return for another season at one of our most longstanding and popular projects and we hope you’ll join us as we make the necessary improvements to the interior of the lighthouse. Learn more about the Point Iroquois Lighthouse at Hiawatha National Forest’s website.
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: September 10-15, September 17-22, and September 24-29
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: Located 30 minutes west of Sault Ste. Marie!
MAP to POINT IROQUOIS LIGHTHOUSE
ACCESS: 
Tent camping only; those with truck bed campers or similar can also access this site. There are RV sites in the vicinity at Monocle Lake Campground and Brimley State Park Campground but volunteers will need to make their own reservations, and plan to commute to and from the site daily. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.
Scope of Work
SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY: 
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff, volunteers and applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Point Iroquois Lighthouse:
- Interior brick and mortar repairs
- Interior paint removal
- Prime and paint interior surfaces
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Visit our Job Calendar to see if a project session is full.
*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.