Lighthouses, Fresnel Lenses, and Lifesaving

Lighthouses and Fresnel Lenses

The Inland Seas Maritime Museum has a spectacular collection of Fresnel lenses on display! The large lens to the right is a Second Order Fresnel lens from the Spectacle Reef Light in northern Lake Huron. Second order lenses are the second largest (on a scale of First to Sixth) in existence, and the largest ever used on the Great Lakes. The Spectacle Reef Fresnel lens is truly a one-of-a-kind artifact!

The U. S. Lifesaving Service and the U.S. Coast Guard

The U. S. Lifesaving Service preceded the U. S. Coast Guard. The image to the left shows a cart used by the Lifesaving Service to rescue crews from vessels that became stranded on rocky shores. The Inland Seas Maritime Museum's collection includes artifacts from both the USLSS and the Coast Guard, including uniforms, information on the icebreaker MACKINAW, and even the first-ever awarded USLSS gold medal!

Continue the Virtual Tour! Proceed to Pilothouse from the CANOPUS.