Poe Reef Light is an offshore lighthouse in the Straits of Mackinac that marks a dangerous reef in the South Channel, a vital route for westbound vessels bound for Lake Michigan. Earlier lightships served the site from 1893, but storms could drive them off station, leading to construction of a permanent light completed in 1928. Part of Michigan’s network of reef lights, it worked with nearby Fourteen Foot Shoal Light to define both sides of the channel, with Poe’s crew able to operate the other light remotely. Named for engineer Orlando M. Poe, it was recognized in 2005 for its engineering importance and role in safer Great Lakes navigation.