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3 Great Lakes lighthouses are up for grabs

Wikipedia
/
U.S. Coast Guard

Three Great Lakes lighthouses are being auctioned by the federal government.

Skillagalee Island lighthouse in Lake Michigan, Spectacle Reef lighthouse in Lake Huron and Gravelly Shoal Light in Saginaw Bay can be bid on by non-profits.

Joseph O'Bradovic is with the U.S. General Services Administration, which is putting the lighthouses up for auction. 

He says that when lighthouses are no longer used by the Coast Guard, they first get offered to state and local governments or historical preservation organizations at no cost. Earlier this year, three Michigan lighthouses became available for stewardship. 

Credit U.S. Coast Guard
/
U.S. Coast Guard
Skillagalee Island Lighthouse circa 1920

However, if no one applies for the structure or no applications are approved, the lighthouse are auctioned to the public.

"They are pretty much all considered to be historically significant, so they are being sold with protective covenants," O'Bradovic said.

Only non-profits can bid on the structures. The organizations must preserve and maintain them.

According to the GSA, 41 lighthouses have been sold at auction around the country since 2000.

Gravelly Shoals Light

Anyone interested in learning more about the auctions can find more information online.

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