Munising Range Lights and Little River Lights to be
Protected Under National Preservation Program

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton traveled to Traverse, Mich. today to announce that the Munising Range Light and the Little River Light stations will be preserved under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program.

The Interior chief made the announcement during a ceremony at the base of Point Betsie Light Station located near Crystal Lake on Lake Michigan. Norton noted that both the Munising Range Light and the Little River Light stations will be transferred from U.S. Coast Guard's jurisdiction under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The Act, created by Congress, authorizes the transfer of historic lighthouses and stations at no cost to federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit corporations and community development organizations.

"These maritime treasures hold a part of our history and countless untold stories," Secretary Norton said. "The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program recognizes the cultural, recreational and educational value of these structures and provides for their long-term preservation."

The Munising Range Lights Station and the Little River Light Station are among the first six approved lighthouses out of more than 300 which may be recommended for transfer. Under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program, some of the lighthouses will be protected as part of parks while others will be protected and administered by private groups.

The program calls for Department of the Interior to decide the best possible steward(s) for each lighthouse. Secretary Norton recommended that the Muninsing Range Lights Station located in Muninsing Harbor, Michigan, be managed by the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, which is part of the Interior Department's National Park Service. The Little River Light Station located in Cutler Harbor, Maine, will be administered by the American Lighthouse Foundation.

"It's not surprising that historians, lighthouse buffs, and just plain citizens have been part of an effort to rescue lighthouses from either disrepair or disuse," Norton said. "Many Americans love the history and lore of lighthouses. This is a classic example of partnerships for the good of preservation of American history."

The Munising Range Lights and the Little River Light stations are among four other lighthouses that Secretary Norton announced this week. Others include St. Augustine Light on Anastasia Island near St. Augustine, Florida, which is being transferred to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, Inc.; the Rondout Creek Light at Kingston Point on the Hudson River in New York, which is going to the City of Kingston; and the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse on the West side of the Hudson River near Esopus, New York, which is being transferred to the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse group.

"We decide the best lighthouse 'Keeper' for each structure, whether public or private, based on what is best for long-term preservation of these historic treasures," Norton said. "The public and private sectors are on equal footing, working together to pick the means of preservation that will work best in each location."

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