Could You Make It as a Lighthouse Keeper? (I Couldn't)

What's it like to be a lighthouse keeper? I spent an afternoon with Nick Korstad, the keeper at Big Bay Point Lighthouse on Michigan's Lake Superior, to find out - and learned that being a keeper requires even more work and dedication than I'd imagined.
🎥 My first video from Big Bay Point, "The Invention That Saved a Million Ships": • The Invention That Sav...
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Here are the key (non-Nick) sources I used while researching the story of lighthouse keepers:
The 1927 manual: uslhs.org/site...
www.cmich.edu/...
www.nps.gov/ar...

[@michaelmolter8828]

Most people don’t understand how light houses are actually used. It’s not so much a beacon denoting a hazard, but a precise location on a map that can be identifiable from a distance. Using at least two light houses, a nautical map, and a compass, you can triangulate your exact location on a waterway.

[@jonlangford7622]

I just don't understand why this video doesn't have 100,000 views. She is doing the whole "science communicator" thing in a cool and unique way. She gets legitimately cool interviews with people who know what they are talking about. It's interesting stuff and KZbin just doesn't promote it.

[@AlexisDahl]

Thanks, Jon! I really appreciate the kind words. 🙂

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

The KZbin algorithm has found Alexis. Her channel is just starting to kick off.

[@jimsmedley234]

Totally agree with your comments. Alexis: I've only just found your channel and I'm hooked. She presents correct, clear and concise information - precisely what I encouraged my students to deliver in my 40+ years as a research scientist and educator.

[@vesuviusjohn7558]

KZbin suggested this to me, now I'm hooked.

[@NicStage]

The algorithm is a fickle black box.

[@alexander10000000]

As a merchant mariner myself, I will be be eternally thankful for the lighthouses and the men and women that maintain them. God Speed to them.

[@pizzaivlife]

I'm very glad Tom Scott lead me here this summer

[@C.Schmidt]

This was such an awesome and wholesome way to spend 15 minutes! Always cool to see someone who is just undeniably an expert talk about their field.

[@AlexisDahl]

Aw, shucks, thanks! I'm always very conscious of how long my videos are, ha, so I'm especially glad you enjoyed this longer one! 🙂

[@C.Schmidt]

@@AlexisDahl I don't think I'm a good judge of how long videos are... I watched a video from Defunctland that was like 1 hour and 40 minutes about Disney's Fast Pass not too long ago...

[@AlexisDahl]

@@C.Schmidt Oh, my gosh, ha ha. You are dedicated! Out of curiosity, is there any length of video where you're automatically like, "Nah, that's too much for me?" Or does it totally depend on the topic(s)?

[@C.Schmidt]

@@AlexisDahl usually depends on the topic for me. I've never looked at the run time specifically as a make or break. But usually around the 30 minute mark videos go from a dedicated activity to something to listen to when doing something else like... eating for example.

[@skwrk]

I am from Poland. Your state was probably the least probable place to visit. Was. Love your content!

[@AlexisDahl]

This is such a high compliment. I'm honored, genuinely. Thank you for the kind words!

[@rustedoutwrench]

Would love to see other lighthouses explored specifically the stannard rock lighthouse

[@AlexisDahl]

You and me both! 🙂 I've been interested in chartering a boat to go to Stannard Rock for a while now, but getting inside requires some special permission.

[@jnooney8225]

While raising my family i was enraptured with lighthouses and wanted to see each one in Michigan--the state that has the most! However, my husband had other interests and since we were raising 3 kids, I never got to achieve this dream. We did make a dent, however, and this is one that was not open to the public at the time. The one on Whitefish Point is probably one of the best to start with because of the museum there, which is fascinating, and has a wonderful gift shop, besides. I want to go back. But I hope to see this one before I'm too decrepit to travel there!

[@aaronwentzel4145]

"There's a lot of history in this country." I love your videos! Thank you!

[@LibertyMonk]

hearing that euphemism of "gravity decommissioned" was soul wrenching.

[@bones007able]

Since you were in the area , you should show a tour of all the filming locations from the Movie Anatomy of a Murder... my uncle was a extra in it...

[@garyzink1927]

My friend Fritz was attending Northern Michigan University at that time and he said some of his friends were extras in that movie! Probably a good chance my friend, who later owned 2 different places close to the big bay lighthouse, knew your uncle. Wow, small world.

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

I love the creepy lighthouse keeper stories, maybe Scooby Doo had something to Doo with that. Thanks for the video

[@Oddzilla51]

That was awesome! Love lighthouses! My team almost had the chance to investigate one on lake Michigan one year but it fell through, unfortunately! Who wouldn't want to spend the night in a lighthouse and do a paranormal investigation, right? Or, wait, is it just me and the people I know? :D :D Thanks again for a great video!

[@AlexisDahl]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🎉 Also, oh, man, that sounds like such an experience! Maybe you'll get another chance like that in the future!

[@csnide6702]

If you really want to try - My area has a Lighthouse Keepers Association where you can volunteer to be a keeper for a month at a time . The Big Sauble Point , White River Light Station (in Whitehall) Little Sauble Point (in Ludington State Park) & Ludington Lighthouse are all a part of this program. Come check it out !

[@Barblooms]

As usual, an excellent video. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and once again, you taught me something I didn’t know!

[@AlexisDahl]

Shucks, thank you! That's such an encouragement.

[@calamitykp829]

FANTASTIC video again, Alexis!!!

[@AlexisDahl]

Aw, thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! 💛

[@ferrisulf]

I had no idea how strict things were for lighthouse keepers! This was a very cool video! I would love to see it with that light back in it!

[@calamitykp829]

GREAT VIDEO, ALEXIS! “Aunt Kathy”

[@johnjunge6989]

FYI, just wanted you to know, my favorite SciShow videos are about prehistoric animals and sea creatures, don't know if they we're part of your production. I worked on a house that the owner was a Light House collector. He had a second floor to his home, only accessible by a two person elevator. It overlooked the junction of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. He had tons on lighthouse models and paid for a miniature one to be build near the shore of the Mississippi, almost straight across from his house. He was a mass of lighthouse information!

[@Altema22]

Me before this video: Being a lighthouse keeper would be fun! Me after this video: Um, on second thought... Wonderful video, and I had no idea things were so strict. Thanks to all the brave souls who kept the lights burning.

[@forsbes]

Such an interesting insight to how much lighthouses really were used, and in some ways continue to be used!

[@AlexisDahl]

That's what I thought, too!

[@TheMichiganVagabond]

Always so informative!!

[@RagnarRocks]

Can't wait to see what other light houses you visit in the future!

[@jeremywales8]

I love lighthouses. Sometimes being out on the water can definitely disorient you. 😆🤷🏻‍♂️ Thank you 🥰❤️‍🔥💎🕯️🤙🏻✨

[@kenmrock9334]

Growing up at my grandparents house is Grindstone City I was blessed to see two light houses going off in the distance. Great memories that spark my love for light houses. Thank you for producing this lovely video.

[@sheilafranklin186]

So happy to have discovered your videos. And to learn so many new things about this great state we live in.

[@Omnifarious0]

I just thought of a bit of lore from that area that might interest you. It even inspired a song! The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. 🙂

[@AlexisDahl]

Yes, absolutely! The Fitz has been on my "considering" list for a while now. I'd like to learn more about the potential mechanisms that might've sunk the ship, but it's definitely something on my radar!

[@garyzink1927]

My friend Fritz owned a place just down the shore from the lighthouse. We took a canoe from lake independence around and past the lighthouse to Fritz's house. At 20' deep and crystal clear water, the whole lake bottom was nothing but giant boulders the size of a house! I'll never forget that sight. Loved your review and reaction. P.S. He mentioned the Huron Mountain Club. Research them lol, but they won't let you. Very secretive and interesting.

[@WilliamEricStone]

Love this video...And all the videos you make about the UP. Where I live I can see where the Ontonagon river flows into The Lake, ( and when we talk about The Lake, up here, we mean only one; Superior). If I had a million dollars just laying around, I would buy 14 mile point. The lighthouse itself is a total wreak...But to live there and think about what it was like to live in the UP a hundred years ago! He mentions that the lumber for his lighthouse is from Ontonagon county. By the 1890's much of Eastern and central UP regions had been extensity logged...Not so in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties. My house was built in 1940, the lumber came from less than 5 miles away. The winters here are something like most never see...And we like it that way!

[@TearyEyesAnderson]

One of the bad things about owning a lighthouse is that they attract “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms”, according to Ray Bradbury's story "The Fog". :) The beach I used to swim at had a view of a lighthouse, but I don't remember ever spending time there. I also used to live across from a train station, so those both made me enjoy buildings of that type, and think about other forms of transportation besides cars and trucks.

[@AlexisDahl]

Oh, cool! Living across from a train station sounds like it could both be a lot of fun and a bit of an annoyance, ha, depending on how trafficked it is. But that sounds like a cool experience overall!

[@mikeashely8198]

Big Bay is a nice little town used to go fishing there at Lake Independence. Used to walk along the old railroad tracks from Marquette to Big Bay, there was a factory there that made wooden frames for Henry Ford way back in the day

[@garyzink1927]

I wonder, is that huge brick smokestack from ford's factory still in the air there? Haven't been there since the 90s so I'm not sure. It really stood out.

[@cliffwhite5552]

This is amazing, thanks for making it! ❤

[@bobthiele7737]

Found these about a month ago and am slowly working through them. I get excited about how things came about or work. Love the videos! Camping in Michigan is great and you've given me a couple of places to stop by.

[@outdooradventureswithfayde6832]

Like 401 👍. I don't often find a new channel and like it enough to go back and watch much of their other stuff. Well, I love that KZbin had one of your videos in the feed and I clicked on it because I've found some amazing videos, like this one! I've always loved lighthouses and imagined what it would be like to live in one and maintain it. You edit the videos quite well, and I can tell you put a lot of thought and planning into making your videos. I love visiting the UP and your videos are so fun to watch and learn about places I've seen and give me new ideas for future adventures. What an awesome channel!! 😊

[@pattongilbert]

This was such a lovely watch, as always. :)

[@AlexisDahl]

Thanks, Patton! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tetreaulthank4068]

Wonderful video ! Thank you so much for filming this

[@MaxThriving]

Wow! Just Wow! I stumbled across your channel and have viewed this video and the one about the dredge on Touch Lake. Both were excellent. You and your team do a great job. I will be watching more of your work in the future.

[@papadave3084]

Yet another great video, Alexis! This prompts me to look up info about Fresnel lenses, how they are made, and what makes them work so well. ~Cheers from Michigan

[@flatsrat222]

Thanks again for another great story. Well done!👍

[@Bemfactor98]

This is yet another great video. Well done and a sincere thank you for how well this was presented.

[@spamllama]

Great video once again! I was at Thomas Rock Overlook in 2019, and unknowingly at the time took a picture of Big Bay Lighthouse.

[@AlexisDahl]

Thanks, Rae! Also, that's awesome! What a fun coincidence.

[@russmode]

I have heard stories of keeper's at the stag stations actually losing there minds, or going insane because of the seclusion. Grand Marais also has a great lighthouse, along with Coast Guard station and museum.

[@richysradioroom]

Good stuff.

[@timvb2]

You should go check out Stannard rock lighthouse and the story behind it.

[@tender-warrior]

for starters, excellent video as always thank you for sharing!! I'm always very excited when you put up something :) but secondly!!! WHAT is the song that starts playing at 0:51??? it's a jam!

[@AlexisDahl]

Aw, thank you! I appreciate it, genuinely! 😊 Also, ha ha, it IS a jam. It's (maybe ironically) called "Won't Return to This Town" by Epocha. I've been getting my music lately through Epidemic Sound, so am not sure how easy the track is to find, but it's a good one.

[@LadyYoop]

Talk about Heaven. wow...

[@LadyYoop]

AND...you rock. 💕

[@timc2346]

Great video and very informative.

[@mikeashely8198]

The federal inspectors must have been Marine Corps drill instructors

[@stevebrey8025]

Love your video so informative I always learn so much you have the best personality your great on camera keep bringing us Michigan history love it

[@registromalplena2514]

Wonder if this is the light house that my friend would house sit in the winter.

[@kevin-gj6ij]

Great video..I hope the previous owners left a copy of Anatomy of a murder.Anatomy of a murder is a Jimmy Stewart movie filmed in Big Bay, Michigamme and Marquette..Alexis if you have not seen it find a way to watch it..Future video idea(maybe) Nick is doing an A+ job at the lighthouse and is a great teacher of the history...Have a great and woderful day!

[@AlexisDahl]

Thanks, Kevin! And I've heard of Anatomy of Murder but haven't watched it yet - I'll have to add it to my list for a snowy day. 🙂 But yes! Nick is an absolute gem. Thanks again, and take care!

[@jerrysstories711]

My uncle was a lighthouse keeper. He never lost one.

[@johnjunge6989]

BTW, I would have lost my job, dust is not a big deal big to me -- LoL

[@ballibalarambasak2600]

I would ĺike to do this job

[@211212112]

He needs a carbon fiber or titanium flagpole or something

[@wmurray23]

Bothers me that his glasses were crooked during interview

[@csnide6702]

maybe that's his style...... or "thing".