Originally a square white wooden tower structure built in 1893, the iconic red lighthouse was established in 1908.  A fog horn was added in 1910 and still operates on a volunteer basis through marine band radio.

The steel tower lighthouse came from Muskegon, Michigan; the rock came from Sturgeon Bay; and sand came from Green Island. The work needed 50 men (half of them were from Algoma). General Douglas MacArthur helped design the pier as an engineer.

Individual light keepers worked until it was automated in 1973. As far as records have been kept, there have been no known tragedies involved with the lighthouse. Operational, no tours. Sunrise to sunset, the Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse provide spectacular photo opportunities.