MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP) — City officials are seeking control of the century-old lighthouse that is a landmark along the Lake Michigan shore.

City Council members voted Tuesday to apply for the 55-foot tower, which the federal government last year offered to give away at no cost to government agencies or nonprofit groups that would use it for education, recreation or historic preservation purposes.

The white, black and red lighthouse, built in 1904, has long been a symbol for the city and could become a tourist attraction, Councilman Richard Murphy said.

“People love old stuff,” he said. “Heritage tourism is now a growing industry in the U.S. It’s a billion-dollar enterprise.”

An engineering review estimated that the lighthouse needed less than $100,000 in immediate repairs. The city’s application to the General Services Administration committed $15,000 a year toward maintenance.

“I would venture to say that maybe we can even maintain it better than it’s been maintained in the past,” council President Ron Meer said.

The GSA has transferred 35 lighthouses from Coast Guard ownership since 2000 because of shortages in manpower and resources to maintain them, officials said.

Councilman Robert McKee said the lighthouse was essentially a maintenance building with a boiler and a ladder that leads straight up to the beacon, so it was unlikely to be opened for public tours.

City Planner John Pugh said if the city gained control of the building, the Coast Guard would continue to own and maintain the beacon light.

Posted 2/7/2008