Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

Built in 1814 during the War of 1812, Fort Gratiot guarded the juncture between St. Clair River and Lake Huron. The river's important in the economy facilitated the need for a lighthouse in the late 1800s. This is the first lighthouse in Michigan and the second oldest on the Great Lakes. You can climb the stairs to get a grandiose 360-degree view at the top. For an out-of-this-world experience, brave the freezing weather during the winter to see the lakes covered in white plumes of ice and snow. (Submitted by James Fisher)