An improved lighthouse, which also survives, was raised in 1866 three years before the installation of the Copper Harbor Front Range Light and the Copper Harbor Rear Range Light.

The foundation materials are dressed stone and timer, and the building was made of brick.

[3] In 1933, the light itself was removed from the lighthouse, and placed on the adjacent 62-foot (19 m) tall white skeleton tower,[4] which has a focal plane of 90 feet (27 m).

[2] The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is currently (as of 2006) operated as a unit of the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries.

It is open to the public in summer months and features a museum about the lighthouse and Lake Superior maritime history.

[9] The boat leaves from the Municipal pier in Copper Harbor, typically taking 15 minutes to reach the point.