Thunder Bay Island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in America, and is located adjacent to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve.

The Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Preservation Society is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and is licensed to solicit by the State of Michigan. We are dedicated to the education, preservation and restoration of Thunder Bay Island and its historic light station The goal of the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Preservation Society is the repair, restoration and maintenance of the remaining historic structures on the island. In doing so, we are engaged in gathering documentation of the island and its inhabitants. As we share the information we discover, the public will be able to gain an understanding and appreciation for the valuable maritime history revolving around the island.

In December, 1997, the Society and the US Coast Guard signed a ten-year lease for the building with an easement to access these buildings. The lease has been extended to 2027, and the Society is working in partnership with Alpena Township to gain ownership of the southern portion of the island.