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ALGER COUNTY -- It seems that everyone who visits the Au Sable Point Lighthouse is impressed by the beauty they find.

"We came out to see the lighthouse.  We'll go all the way down the bluffs, the sand dunes--they're stunning.  We're overwhelmed, we never expected it to be this beautiful," says Bill Wehrenberg, who hiked to the lighthouse from downtown Grand Marais.

Lighthouse program coordinator Karena Minor says it's so beautiful, she can't believe she actually works there.

"When you're out here, it's so peaceful at night," said Minor.  "The stars, just from horizon to horizon, seeing sunsets out here and even sunrises out here, just the serenity of the place."

But there's a unique history here, as well.  The lighthouse played a critical role in the economic development of the area.  It was built in 1872 to help cargo ships with iron ore and timber cross the Great Lakes to the U.P.

Lighthouse contractor and U.P. native Carl Behrend says he wanted to do the restoration because he feels like he's getting in touch with his roots.  "Well, I just feel it's part of our heritage that is so important; it brings us back to the past, it tells us who our forefathers really are," said Behrend.

Behrend loves the Great Lakes so much, he sings about it.  He says that working on lighthouses inspired the five records he produced.

"The Great Lakes, there's so many beautiful lighthouses, there's so much beautiful shoreline, it's very inspiring and I feel privileged to live here," Behrend said.

The free event will include lighthouse history tours, food, music, a free shuttle to the lighthouse, and of course, those breathtaking views.