Charity Island

Island Wildlife Refuge & Historic Lighthouse in Saginaw Bay

Embark on a journey to the 1880’s and experience Great Lakes maritime history and a boat ride across Saginaw Bay to Big Charity Island to the Charity Island Lighthouse. The Charity Island National Wildlife Refuge is located 10 miles offshore in the middle of Saginaw Bay between the port city of Caseville to the East and Au Gres to the west. It contains 300 acres of forest and 3 miles of shoreline; it’s home to hundreds of animals.

National Wildlife Refuge: 222-acre Charity Island, the largest island in Saginaw Bay, is part of the "Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge". Its isolated beaches and unique hardwood forest provide excellent habitat for rare and protected plants, animals, and songbirds. There is also an historic lighthouse on the island that is under private ownership (see Charity Island Dinner Cruises). The island is located approximately 10 miles offshore and easily accessible from the AuGres Boat Launch or a privately run ferry service. The portion of the island that is the Wildlife Refuge is currently closed to the public.

Lighthouse: Built in 1856-57, it was originally equipped with a white, Fourth Order Fresnel lens. Fourth-order Fresnel lenses were 28", with a focal length of 9.8", and used 5 ounces of oil per hour. Although a lens in that configuration had a range of up to 15 nautical miles, the Charity Island lens had a range of 13 nautical miles. In 1900, the light was fully automated, and an acetylene lens replaced the 4th-order lens. It was deactivated in 1939 and replaced by the Gravelly Shoal light about 5 miles away. Tours of the island, including the privately-owned, rebuilt lightkeeper's house, are available from Charity Island Transport, Inc. on the mainland in Au Gres, Michigan

Lightkeepers’ House: The Lighthouse and keepers’ quarters are located on the very northern tip of Big Charity Island, which is located in the very middle of 20-mile-wide Saginaw Bay, ten miles offshore. Charity Island Lightkeepers Home is located and attached to the lighthouse, which was built in 1857. Maritime history surrounds this Lightkeepers home, and nearly all of the Island is managed by the Federal Fish & Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Sanctuary. This five-bedroom home with 2.5 baths sleeps 8 adults. The house has four bedrooms upstairs (each with trundle beds) with a full bath upstairs. The Master bedroom downstairs has a 3/4 bath (shower, no tub) and a queen-size bed. In addition, there is a half bath off the living room. The galley-style kitchen comes complete with modern conveniences including a microwave, gas range, and a full-size electric refrigerator (no garbage disposal). The home has a wrap-around deck with a dozen comfortable wicker chairs from which to enjoy breathtaking views of Saginaw Bay and Little Charity Island just 2 miles south. There are three miles of natural shoreline on the Island, and migratory songbirds in May are abundant, as are the Baltimore oriels and hummingbirds. Go to our birdwatching link above for more info on the island birds. Wildlife includes Fox, Mink, raccoons, chipmunks, three bald eagle nests, dozens of swans, geese, and wood ducks, to name a few. Several dozen White Pelicans come up from the Gulf of Mexico every spring to nest and raise their young on Little Charity Island. Spring Wildflowers are amazing throughout the month of May, as is the bird watching. In addition, world-class fishing surrounds the island, and great fishing can be had in the small Island marina or wading off the rocky shoreline.

Dinner Cruise: Embark on a journey to the 1880’s and experience Great Lakes maritime history and a unique dining experience at a Lighthouse built in 1857. Enjoy a relaxing cruise across Saginaw Bay to Big Charity Island to dine at a lighthouse, share in the unique island story, walk along a forested trail, be treated to an entertaining history presentation, and tour the lightkeeper’s home. Coffee and dessert are served on the return trip. Reservations are highly recommended.

Things to Do: Scenic Viewing, Wildlife Watching, Guided Tours, Birding, Plant Viewing, Bed & Breakfast, Dining

Open: Fall, Spring, Summer

GPS: 44.03139, -83.43556