Michigan Lighthouses & Women Lighthouse Keepers with Michigan History Hounds - America250

The Hastings Public Library invites you to a special History Hounds presentation featuring author and historian Dianna Stampfler as she explores Michigan Historic Lighthouses and Ladies of the Lights: Women Lighthouse Keepers.

Join us in Hastings, Michigan for an engaging and illuminating look at Michigan’s maritime past as Dianna shares the fascinating stories behind the beacons that guided ships safely across the Great Lakes.

During this presentation, you’ll discover:

• The lives and service of lighthouse keepers — the dedicated men and women who stood watch over the Great Lakes day and night.
• The challenges faced on isolated shores — from fierce storms and lonely nights to the demanding physical labor of maintaining the lights.
• Stories rooted in Michigan maritime history — personal accounts, historic photographs, and insights from the era of the U.S. Lighthouse Service.
• How lighthouses shaped commerce, transportation, and lakeshore communities across Michigan.

Dianna Stampfler has spent years researching and presenting on Michigan’s lighthouses and maritime heritage. While she is also known for programs such as Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses, her work consistently brings forward the real human stories of the keepers, their families, and the vital role these iconic structures played in Great Lakes history.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the remarkable women and men who kept the lights burning.

America250 Program through Michigan History Hounds