Fort Gratiot Light is a lighthouse in Saint Clair County, Michigan. It sits roughly 3.9 km (2.4 mi) N of Port Huron. Its recorded tower height is about 26 m (85 ft). It dates from 1825. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fort Gratiot Light , the first lighthouse in the state of Michigan, was constructed north of Fort Gratiot in 1825 by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first U.S. Senators. The Fort Gratiot Light marks the entrance to the St. Clair River from Lake Huron (going south) in the southern portion of Michigan's Thumb. The light is still active, but the federal government transferred ownership to St. Clair County Parks and Recreation (St. Clair County PARC) in 2010. In 2012, St. Clair County PARC partnered with the Port Huron Museums to provide tours and lighthouse tower climbs to the public, which continue to be offered on a seasonal basis for a small fee. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan. There is also a public beach and park on the property, known as Lighthouse Beach. It is across the river from Point Edward Front Range Light.From the Wikipedia article “Fort Gratiot Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Fort Gratiot Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:34 AM | 90° E | 7:42 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 56° ENE | 9:13 PM | 304° NW | 70° | 15h 22m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:18 AM | 89° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:59 AM | 122° ESE | 4:59 PM | 238° WSW | 24° | 9h 00m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 AM | 7:59 AM | 8:43 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:52 PM | 9h 22m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:21 PM | 6:01 PM | 6:30 PM | 10h 33m |
| March | 7:15 AM | 7:43 AM | 8:20 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:04 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 6:19 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:42 PM | 13h 24m |
| May | 5:35 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:48 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:46 PM | 9:19 PM | 14h 39m |
| June | 5:15 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:34 AM | 8:28 PM | 9:11 PM | 9:47 PM | 15h 21m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:05 AM | 6:47 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:08 PM | 9:42 PM | 15h 03m |
| August | 6:06 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:05 PM | 13h 58m |
| September | 6:42 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:47 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:10 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 7:15 AM | 7:44 AM | 8:22 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 05m |
| November | 6:52 AM | 7:23 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:07 PM | 5:38 PM | 9h 45m |
| December | 7:23 AM | 7:55 AM | 8:41 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:29 PM | 9h 02m |
Local time (America/Detroit), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Fort Gratiot Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 5:11 AM – 6:01 AM | 0.8 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:15 AM – 4:55 AM | 1.7 | 17° | SSE → S |
| May | 1:17 AM – 3:57 AM | 2.7 | 18° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:29 PM – 3:29 AM | 4.0 | 18° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:18 PM – 2:08 AM | 2.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:23 PM – 12:03 AM | 1.7 | 17° | S → SSW |
| September | 9:19 PM – 10:09 PM | 0.8 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.54 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 54% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (82%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 52 | 53 | 69 | 66 | 80 | 85 | 86 | 88 | 83 | 80 | 66 | 57 |
| Low °F | -8 | -13 | -1 | 19 | 30 | 38 | 52 | 55 | 40 | 34 | 19 | 5 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this lighthouse
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Fort Gratiot Light, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fort Gratiot Light?
What time is golden hour at Fort Gratiot Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Fort Gratiot Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Fort Gratiot Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fort Gratiot Light?
How far is Fort Gratiot Light from Port Huron?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.