Michigan storyteller, historian and author Dianna Stampfler will be traveling around the eastern Upper Peninsula to share stories from many of the state’s historic lighthouses.
Michigan is home to more lighthouses (and freshwater coastline) than any other state and during her six entertaining and educational presentations, Stampfler will delve into the keepers’ lives.
Two different programs will be offered at five different libraries over the course of three days, June 18-20 in Sault Ste. Marie, Engadine, Cedarville, Moran and DeTour Village (see schedule below). “Ladies of the Lights” focuses on female keepers who have served the Great Lakes and “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” includes spirited tales from the pages of Stampfler’s newly-released book of the same name, published in March 2019 from The History Press. Each presentation is free and open to the public. Copies of the Amazon.com best-selling book will be available for purchase and autographing for $20 cash ($21.20 credit).
“I have been researching, writing and presenting programs about Michigan’s lighthouses and their keepers for more than 20 years,” says Stampfler, who launched her company Promote Michigan in 2004 after serving for seven years as the marketing and media director with the West Michigan Tourist Association. “I continue to be amazed at how many people truly love to hear about our historic (and often haunted) lighthouses and the role they played in so many of Michigan’s early industries like mining, lumbering, fishing, agriculture and manufacturing.”
Stampfler has been professionally writing and broadcasting since high school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English with emphasis in Community Journalism and Communications with emphasis in radio broadcasting from Western Michigan University. She is a member of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, Great Lakes Maritime Museum, Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, Historical Society of Michigan, Michigan Maritime Museum, National Museum of the Great Lakes and West Michigan Tourist Association. Stampfler was born and raised in Plainwell but currently lives in Walloon Lake, where she welcomes visits from her two adult children, her family and friends.
Eastern Upper Peninsula Lighthouse Presentation Tour Schedule
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 – 2-3:30 pm
“Ladies of the Lights”
Bayliss Public Library
541 Library Dr., Sault Ste. Marie, MI
https://www.facebook.com/events/311798056174171/
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 – 7-8:30 pm
“Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses”
Bayliss Public Library
541 Library Dr., Sault Ste. Marie, MI
https://www.facebook.com/events/411182612990974/
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 – 2-3:30 pm
“Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses”
Engadine Library
W13920 Melville St., Engadine, MI
https://www.facebook.com/events/2016056632028782/
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 – 7-8:30 pm
“Ladies of the Lights”
Les Cheneaux Community Library
75 E. Hodeck St., Cedarville, MI
https://www.facebook.com/events/419020158920148/
Thursday, June 20 – 2-3:30 pm
“Ladies of the Lights”
Brevort Library
1941 Church Rd, Moran, MI
https://www.facebook.com/events/807980169561487/
Thursday, June 20 – 7-8:30pm
“Ladies of the Lights”
DeTour Public Library
202 S Division St., DeTour Village, MI
https://www.facebook.com/events/393839034682119/
