In operation from 1876 to 2016, Tawas Point Lighthouse is a fascinating attraction for maritime buffs, birdwatchers, and more. It is a State Park and a much-visited tourist destination, offering spectacular views of sunrises over Lake Huron and sunsets over Tawas Bay.

The lighthouse visitors see today is the second built on the point. Due to accretion (the opposite of erosion), Tawas Point keeps growing. The first lighthouse was built on Tawas Point in 1853, near the present State Park entrance. The point quickly grew, and by the 1870s, the lighthouse was more than a mile inland. Increased shipping traffic in Tawas Bay due to the growing logging and fishing industries meant a more effective lighthouse was needed. The new lighthouse, built in 1876, marked the entry to Tawas Bay and warned mariners away from the shallow waters of Tawas Point. Today, the lighthouse is once again more than a mile from the tip of the point. Guests to the lighthouse can go on a guided tour through the museum with a volunteer lighthouse keeper and are welcome to climb the 85 stairs up the tower for a breathtaking view of Tawas Bay and Lake Huron. Visitors can also enjoy the Lighthouse Museum Store and a walk down Tawas Point or along the Sandy Hook Nature Trail.