[2] Middle Island historically marked an important location for mariners on Lake Huron, being midway on a journey between the north point of Thunder Bay and Presque Isle.

Recognizing the danger of the area, the United States Life-Saving Service constructed a station on the island in 1881.

In 1928, the oil light was changed to a green electrical third-order Fresnel lens; the fog signal was also upgraded.

[1] In 1939, the tower was painted white with a horizontal black band, which was changed to red at a later date.

[3] In 1992, he formed the Middle Island Lighthouse Keepers Association to restore the property, and in 2001 the group opened the fog signal building as a bed and breakfast.