Passage Island Light stands on Passage Island in northwestern Lake Superior, about 3.25 miles northeast of Isle Royale, where it was built to mark the waters between the island and Isle Royale in a remote and exposed setting. The need for a light emerged with increased Lake Superior shipping tied to Upper Peninsula mining in the 1860s. Authorized in 1875 but delayed until 1880, the station was built in 1881–1882. Its 44-foot fieldstone tower is joined to a two-story keeper’s dwelling, a practical design for isolated Great Lakes stations. Later upgrades included a fog signal, a new flashing lens, automation, and a modern replacement lens.