BlockBefore
Photograph of Muskegon Breakwater Light
Photograph by Aaron headly, CC BY-SA 4.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Muskegon South Breakwater Light

Built in 1930. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

From the record

“The Muskegon Breakwater Light or South Breakwater Light is a light located on the end of the south arm of the Muskegon breakwater surrounding the mouth of the Muskegon channel in Muskegon, Michigan.”

Wikipedia article Muskegon Breakwater Light, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 14 National Register listings published here for Muskegon County · listed in 2006 · category: Structure · built in 1930.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Fires near this property

22 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 22 fires within 5 miles of Muskegon South Breakwater Light between 1994 and 2020, burning about 23 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Equipment and vehicle use9
Missing data/not specified/undetermined5
Arson/incendiarism2
Debris and open burning2
Smoking2
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Natural1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
31 August 2011Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMUSKEGON 01
30 August 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMUSKEGON 09
30 August 2007Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
9 July 2018Debris and open burning1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMUSKEGON HEIGHTS FD 0001012 - 2018
8 July 2006Smoking1.5 acresMichigan Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
6 July 2019Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMUSKEGON TOWNSHIP FD 0001319 - 2019
6 July 2018Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesNORTON SHORES FD 0001396 - 2018
4 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMUSKEGON FD 0002583 - 2019

Every fire recorded in Muskegon County

Mines and quarries near this property

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Muskegon South Breakwater Light: 3 producers. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Silica. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Lincoln Avenue SiteSilicaProducerSedimentary
Nugent PitSilicaProducer
Sherman Boulevard SiteSilicaProducerSedimentary

Every working recorded in Muskegon County

Storms near this property

40 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Muskegon, the town this property stands in, in 40 storm reports between 1994 and 2021: 26 thunderstorm wind, 11 hail, 2 flash flood, 1 lightning. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2009Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$2,000,000A peak wind gust of 61 mph was recorded at the Muskegon airport. Wind gusts of at least 75 mph were estimated based on damage across far southern Muskegon county in the Fruitport area, where hundreds of trees and numerous power lines were blown down. The entire village was left without power.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$1,000,000Widespread wind damage occurred in the Muskegon metropolitan area including the cities of Muskegon, North Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Norton Shores and Laketon, Muskegon, and Fruitport Townships. Many large trees, utility poles, and power lines were downed by sustained 60 to 80 mph winds (estimated) over a 10 to 15 minute period. Overall, an estimated 900 power lines were downed in the Muskegon area which left approximately 54,000 homes and businesses without power, affecting approximately a third of all Muskegon County residents. Most structural damage to homes and businesses was caused by fallen trees and utility poles. An estimated 500 homes and 30 businesses sustained minor to moderate damage. Most area schools and many area businesses were closed on Friday, May 29th. An estimated 27,000 people were still without power as of late in the day, Saturday, May 30th. Despite the widespread damage, no injuries were reported.
May 2001Flash FloodMuskegon$500,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$150,000no account filed
September 2021Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$50,000Severe storms resulted in several reports of wind damage.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$50,000no account filed
July 2020Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$40,000Several trees were blown down near the intersection of Merrill Avenue and Fourth Street which also damaged several homes in that area.
July 1998LightningMuskegon$40,000The Muskegon Chronicle reported lightning strikes caused 2 separate fires in the area and resulted in power outages affecting 7,500 people in the Muskegon service area. A house fire at 2862 Evanston Avenue in Muskegon Township was caused by a lightning strike. The fire burned the attic and damage was estimated at $40,000. Lightning was also the cause of a fire at an 18-unit storage building at Boxer Store and Lock in Egelston Township. The sheet metal and wood frame building and all of its contents were completely destroyed. A damage estimate for this fire was not available.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$40,000no account filed
April 2015Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$25,000An outbuilding was blown down near the LC Walker arena along with some downed power lines in Muskegon.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindNorth Muskegon$25,000Several large trees were blown down across portions of Muskegon county.
July 2003HailMuskegon$25,000Three quarters inch hail was reported in Muskegon.
August 2003HailMuskegon$25,000One and three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Muskegon township, and three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Lakewood Club.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$25,000no account filed
September 2001HailMuskegon$15,000no account filed
October 2007Thunderstorm WindNorth Muskegon$10,000Large trees were blown down and there were power outages due to wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
October 2006HailMuskegon$10,000Seven eighths inch diameter hail was reported in Fruitland township.
March 2005HailMuskegon$10,000Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported in Muskegon.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$10,000A wind gust to 60 m.p.h. was estimated in Norton Shores and a two to four foot diameter tree limb was blown down in Fruitland township.
June 2004HailMuskegon$10,000Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported seven miles northeast of Muskegon by broadcast media.
June 2004HailMuskegon$10,000Law enforcement reported three quarters inch diameter hail ten miles north of Muskegon.
August 2003HailMuskegon$10,000Three quarters inch hail was reported in Muskegon.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$5,000Several trees were blown down.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$5,000A trained spotter in Muskegon reported a 60 m.p.h. wind gust.
June 1999Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$5,000Several 6 inch diameter tree limbs were downed by thunderstorm wind gusts in Muskegon.
April 1995Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$3,000A large pine tree was uprooted in Norton Shores. Roof damage was done to three houses in downtown Muskegon. Several trees were downed by the wind in Holton.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$2,500Falling tree limbs downed power lines in and around the city of Muskegon.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon$2,500Muskegon County Central Dispatch reported power lines were downed at scattered locations across the cities of Muskegon and Norton Shores.
April 2014HailNorth Muskegon-Trained spotters reported one inch diameter hail in and near Muskegon.
June 2011HailMuskegon-A trained spotter in Muskegon reported that hail up to two inches in diameter fell with an isolated severe storm that moved onshore near the Muskegon harbor before quickly diminishing as it tracked further northeast away from Muskegon.
September 2011Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-Law enforcement from Muskegon reported receiving reports of numerous trees and power lines down across the county.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-Law enforcement from Muskegon county reported that two trees were blown down in Muskegon Heights.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-A six inch maple tree was blown down onto a home.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-Trained weather spotter measured a 62-mph wind gust in Muskegon.
August 1998Flash FloodMuskegon-Minor flooding due to 2-3 inches of rain
May 1998Thunderstorm WindNorth Muskegon-A trained weather spotter measured a 75-mph wind gust in North Muskegon with his local anemometer.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-A trained weather spotter reported a 60 mph wind gust at 7:00 am EDT, then a 62 mph wind gust at 7:10 am EDT, as measured by his local anemometer.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-A trained spotter measured a 60-mph wind gust with his local anemometer.
April 1994HailMuskegon-Some trees and a few power lines were downed by the winds. Hail fell for about five minutes over a small area northeast of Muskegon.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMuskegon-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Muskegon County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Muskegon South Pierhead Light0.3 miles2006
U.S.S. SILVERSIDES0.5 miles1972
C.W. Marsh Company Building4.0 miles2025
Charles H. Hackley House4.5 miles1970
Hume House4.5 miles1972
Union Depot4.5 miles2000

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 06001026 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Muskegon CountyAll 14 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.