The Holland Harbor Light, known as Big Red, is located in Ottawa County, Michigan at the entrance of a channel onnecting Lake Michigan with Lake Macatawa, and which gives access to the city of Holland, Michigan.
Let me talk about some history of this lighthouse.
The first lighthouse built at this location was a small, square wooden structure erected in 1872. In 1880 the lighthouse service installed a new light atop a metal pole in a protective cage. The oil lantern was lowered by pulleys for service. At the turn of the century, a steel tower was built for the light and in 1907 the present structure was erected.
The lighthouse, popularly referred to as "Big Red," was automated in 1932. When the U. S. Coast Guard wanted to abandon it in 1970, citizens took actions to rescue it. The Holland Harbor Lighthouse Historical Commission was then organized to preserve and restore this landmark. Except for its color, it is a virtual twin of the Kewaunee Pierhead Light on the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan. In 2007, the United States Department of the Interior announced that the Holland Harbor Light would be protected, Big Red became the 12th Michigan lighthouse.