McGulpin Point Lighthouse was built to guide ships in the Straits of Mackinac. It operated from 1869 to 1906, when the Old Mackinaw City Lighthouse began operation. The lighthouse was sold as a private residence and remained private until 2008, when ownership passed over to Emmet County. Since then, restoration work on the lighthouse and keepers quarters, as well as the grounds has made this a fine museum well worth a visit if you're in the Mackinaw City area. If you do, be sure to take the short walk down to the Lake Michigan shore for a unique view of the Mackinaw Bridge as well as "The Big Rock"! There are also some interpretive displays along the way that delve into the history of the area.