In 1867 the United States Corps of Engineers dredged the Saginaw River to enable passage by larger ships upriver.

Since the turn of the 21st century, the lighthouse and site are being renovated by the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society for heritage tourism.

Construction of the Saginaw Bay Lighthouse, to mark the entrance to the river, was begun in July 1839 by Captain Stephen Wolverton.

[9] By this time, the lumber industry was growing rapidly, and much timber was shipped downriver and through the Great Lakes and New York state's Erie Canal to eastern markets.

With its upper half sheathed, a small enclosed room was created beneath the gallery for the storage of oil and supplies, and in which the keeper could seek shelter while tending the light during inclement weather conditions.

Eleventh district engineer Major Godfrey Weitzel's design for the combined rear range tower and dwelling was unique.

Atop this concrete foundation, a square two-story Cream City brick Lighthouse keeper's dwelling 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 m) in plan was constructed.

Integrated into the northwest corner of the dwelling, a tapered 53 feet (16 m)-tall square tower with double walls housed a set of prefabricated cast iron spiral stairs.

An octagonal cast iron lantern was installed at its center, with a fixed white fourth-order Fresnel lens placed at a focal plane of 61 feet.

[12] In 1999, the Saginaw River Marine Historical Society (SRMHS) approached Dow to collaborate to restore the lighthouse and open it to tourists.