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The Livingtson Lighthouse was designed by Albert Kahn in 1929 and built the following year in 1930 as a tribute to William Livingstone who was president of the Lake Carriers Association. Livingston was a prominent Detroiter and owned lake freighters.
William Livingston Lighthouse
Located on the East end of Belle Isle, it is the only marble lighthouse in the nation and some say even on the continent. It is sheathed in white Georgia marble and features the work of Hungarian artist Geza Maroti.
Lighthouse facade
The fluted shaft of the lighthouse features eagles at the top and relief panels both the front and rear. This is the only Art Deco lighthouse and the light can be seen from the East for 16 miles.
Detail of sculpture above door
The star, wind and water all relate to being at sea on the Great Lakes and this allegorical figure seems to move effortlessly across the stylized zig-zag water.
Door detail
Maroti uses a favorite motif here on the lighthouse door. We see this design repeated at the Fisher Building, and also at Cranbrook where he worked with Saarinen. More to come on Maroti – promise!
Detail of rear sculpture
Photos (c) 2005-2011 Jack P. Johnson and Jennifer Baross
DetroitArchitectureBook 
Could you tell us where your information comes from about Geza Maroti as the illustrator/carver for the relief? Is it possible he carved the marble but it was designed by Rockwell Kent, who was a friend of Kahn’s nephew?
Anna, yes! Sorry for the delay. Geza Maroti was in fact the designer – he was a Hungarian artist and Professor and worked with Kahn on many projects. The SS Kresge Headquarters on Cass Park, the Fisher Building and Cranbrook all have similar design motifs of Maroti’s work. My resources include the Michigan Manufacture & Financial Record of 1928 which features the Fisher Building, Art Deco in Detroit – the Arcadia Book by Rebecca Binno-Savage and Greg Kowalski, and thesis paper from Joan Broddie found in the University of Michigan library.
I do not know of Kent, but would like to know more. Was he also a designer?