With nearly 600 miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan and over 100 more at the other Great Lakes, Wisconsin has a wealth of lighthouses. Though advances in technology have taken some out of service, many of the state’s iconic beacons remain a living monument to its rich maritime history.
Whether hugging a rocky bluff or speckling a solitary island, these sentinels harken back to a more romantic and adventurous era. If they could talk, these historic lights would tell tales of ferocious Great Lakes storms that claimed both ships and lives. But they would also share the tales of dedicated keepers manning their lights; families who lived in and cared for these structures, sometimes a long trek from cultured urban centers.
The oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin can be found on Washington Island, a remote peninsula that is part of the Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor. It’s not the easiest lighthouse to visit, requiring a drive up the Door County peninsula and two ferry rides. But this trip is well worth it. When it was built in 1868, this lighthouse was a full station, with a tower and two-story keeper’s house. It served as the “guardian of the Strawberry Channel,” guiding sailors through the narrow passage.
Today, the lighthouse is still in operation, using a kerosene Fresnel lens and a resident housekeeper. A keeper’s cottage has been restored to replicate the life of the family who once occupied it. This unique museum is open to the public, and visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse tower. It’s located within Peninsula State Park, one of the best state parks in Wisconsin, with scenic hiking trails and equipped camping sites.
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