Call ahead! I was on a solo drive coming down from Eagle Harbor, so I had timed it perfectly to make the last tour of the day, according to the Historical Society's website. Unfortunately, the website was not up to date, and when I arrived, I found the "last tour" of the day had been two hours previous. Apparently, September is "winter hours." The lighthouse is located on land owned by some chemical industry with an covenant with the historical society, so you can't see the lighthouse without a "tour" and special shuttle bus to the site. If you drive up on your own, it's a locked gate and you can't see anything. The best views without a tour are from across the channel near the Gitchee Gumee gift shop (recommended). There's a dilapidated concrete path by the water that goes out to get this view. It was disappointing to have rushed so far and fast to have the information be out of date. I should have called and taken my time.