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Stonington's Peninsula Point Lighthouse, a Gathering Place for the Monarch Butterfly
My last visit to the U.P. My family and I went to see the Peninsula Point Lighthouse. Now, it had been a few years since I had been there, and boy, was it great.
I knew it was approximately 20 miles off US 2 on CR 513 south. I also knew it was a beautiful drive along the
shoreline of Lake Michigan.The road is paved up until the last few feet which is a one lane dirt road, so I would suggest taking a smaller vehicle. 
This has got to be one of the most beautiful places. I had to ask myself why I had not been here in so long.
The view says it all. 
We decided we were going to climb to the top of the Peninsula Point Lighthouse. Now mind you, I was there with my sister (Nancy), her two kids (Amber & Aaron), and my daughter (Raeann), so the climb to the top was fun. The two girls did great, as did Nancy and I. Aaron was a different story. Going up he was fine, once on top he was a little leery. 
Going down he cried all the way. But of course once we made it down, the girls went back up and our little Aaron
wanted to go with them. Being the mean Auntie I am, the answer was no. LOL We found out the Peninsula Point Lighthouse was built around 1864 and had a two story dwelling for Ira Buck, the stations first keeper. In 1889 Captain James D Armstrong was appointed as keeper, and he was there until 1925. Then in 1927, they installed an acetylene lamp equipped with a sun valve.
The Peninsula Point Lighthouse was declared unnecessay in 1956 after the Minneapolis Shoal Lighthouse was activated in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Stonington Grange assumed responsibility for the Lighthouse in 1949 and received the state prize for their restoration work.
In 1959 the Keeper’s dwelling burned down and the Forest Service repaired the Lighthouse in 1962. Today the Peninsula Point Lighthouse proudly stands on Stonington Peninsula for all to enjoy.
If you look to the east, you will see the Garden Peninsula across Big Bay de Noc, home of the 19th century Ghost Town, Fayette. To the west is Little Bay de Noc, and my home town Escanaba.
If you look real close at the picture you will see the tallest building in town. (Harbor Towers).
Stonington Peninsula is part of the Niagara Escarpment. Which means it juts out from the north shoreline and disappears into Lake Michigan only to reappear 20 miles south, becoming the northern tip of Wisconsin's Door County Peninsula.
Well enough of the history. While we were visiting we noticed there was an abundance of Monarch Butterflies. We then came across this sign explaining that this is a spot that they migrate to before they head across to Door County. Where they continue their journey to Mexico. A Monarch Butterfly research project has been coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with volunteers. The project monitors the larva and tags the adult Monarch. There has been 4 taged Monarchs found in the winter habitat in Mexico. 
Driving directions from Rapid River:
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