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Lighthouse Keeper Program
Centrally Located in downtown
Cheboygan, Michigan
Have you ever yearned to gain a glimpse of the lighthouse keepers life, while simultaneously assisting with the operation and maintenance of a historic lighthouse, you might consider serving as a volunteer keeper at the Cheboygan River Front Range light for a session during the summer or fall season.
Volunteers (couples or two good friends) will have access to the upstairs bedrooms at the lighthouse while providing an enjoyable and hospitable environment for visitors from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Thursday - Sunday, Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Fall Hours are Saturday & Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM until the first weekend of October.
Since volunteer Keepers will work in pairs, you will be free to swap between gift shop and tour duties as you see fit. Keepers will also be responsible for building and grounds maintenance throughout the day. This may include sweeping, dusting, watering flowers, changing light bulbs, etc. There will also be special projects from time to time - ranging from carpentry, light demolition, painting, etc., depending on the individual keeper’s skills and abilities.
Located centrally in downtown Cheboygan, the experience of serving as a weekend volunteer keeper at the Cheboygan River Front Range light offers a unique combination of staying in a historic riverfront lighthouse while enjoying all the amenities of a bustling downtown area.
For additional information, click the link below to download a volunteer manual.
There is a small fee for volunteering at the lighthouse and volunteers must be GLLKA members. For additional information please contact our office.
*Please read through the keeper manual before submitting your application
History of the Cheboygan River Front Range Light
Est. 1880
In 1870 Cheboygan had a population of approximately 800 and a growing number of lumber mills along the shores of the Cheboygan River. The Army Corps of Engineers conducted their first survey of the Cheboygan River that year to evaluate the possibility of improving navigation within the river. Determining that the channel could be enlarged to a width of 200 feet and a depth of 14 feet, Congress responded to the Army Corps of Engineers recommendation with an appropriation of $160,000 to begin the improvement the following year. After dredging the river to the required depths, a free-standing "dummy" crib was placed to mark the outer end of the channel.
