Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes

Losing one’s life while tending to a Great Lakes lighthouse—or any navigational beacon anywhere in the world for that matter—sadly wasn’t such an unusual occurrence. Death by murder, drowning, suicide, or other unnatural and tragic causes, while rare, was not unheard of. In fact, more than a dozen lighthouse keepers around the Great Lakes met their maker at the hands of others—by fire, poisoning, bludgeoning, and other unknown means. Join us as Dianna Stampfler, author of Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes, delves into her research which brought these stories to life… despite the deaths of those featured.
Tickets are free for Museum members and $10 for non-members. A virtual lecture pass is also available. Doors open at 6 PM. You can purchase tickets for this event online, over the phone, or in-person.
This lecture series is made possible thanks to the Nielsen-Wells Grant Fund and Mike & Susan Smith.
About Our Presenters:
Dianna Stampfler has been researching Great Lakes lighthouses for nearly 30 years. As the author of Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses and Death & Lighthouses on the Great Lakes, she’s dug into the lives of the fearless keepers who have worked tirelessly to protect the shoreline for generations. She has used her skills as a researcher, historian and genealogist to uncover unique stories, photographs, articles and other information that will entertain and educate audiences. Dianna is a member of the Historical Society of Michigan, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, U.S. Lighthouse Society, Association for Great Lakes Maritime History, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, and National Museum of the Great Lakes.