Lighthouses of the United States: Northeastern Wisconsin

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. Located in the western Great Lakes region, the state of Wisconsin has two coastlines. One coastline faces north on Lake Superior and includes the Apostle Islands stretching out into the lake. The other coastline faces east on Lake Michigan. Green Bay, a branch of Lake Michigan, is separated from the main part of the lake by the scenic Door Peninsula. This page includes lighthouses of the Green Bay and Door Peninsula coastlines. Lighthouses of the Lake Superior coastline are described on the Northern Wisconsin page, and lighthouses of Lake Winnebago and the Lake Michigan coast south of the Door Peninsula are described on the Southeastern Wisconsin page.

When Wisconsin was organized as a territory in 1936 it included all of the modern states of Minnesota and Iowa and the eastern half of North and South Dakota. In 1838 the area west of the Mississippi River was split off as Iowa Territory. Wisconsin, with its present boundaries, was admitted to the Union as the 30th state in 1848.

Aids to navigation in eastern Wisconsin are maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan based in Milwaukee, but ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in many cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. USCG numbers are from volume 7 of the U.S. Coast Guard List of Lights.

General Sources
Seeing the Lights - Wisconsin
This site by the late Terry Pepper has fine photos, extensive historical accounts, and current information on nearly all of the lighthouses.
Wisconsin Lighthouses
Part of Kraig Anderson's LighthouseFriends.com site; includes photos and brief accounts for nearly all the lighthouses.
Lighthouses in Door County
Infromation from the Destination Door County tourist site.
Door County Lighthouses
Photos and information from the Door County Pulse newspaper.
Wisconsin, United States Lighthouses
Excellent aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Lake Michigan Lighthouses
Excellent photos by C.W. Bash.
Lighthouses in Wisconsin
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images posted by Klaus Huelse.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: Light Lists
The USCG Light List can be downloaded in pdf format.
NOAA Nautical Charts
Official nautical charts for the coast can be viewed online.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for the Green Bay area.


Eagle Bluff Light, Fish Creek, May 2013
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Richie Diesterheft

Algoma Pierhead Light, Algoma, May 2016
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Peter Ciro

Green Bay Lighthouses

Green Bay is a large embayment on the northwestern shore of Lake Michigan, separated from the main part of the lake by Wisconsin's Door Peninsula and a series of islands known as the Potawatomi Islands or Grand Traverse Islands.

Marinette County Lighthouses
[Green Island (1)]
1863. Inactive since 1956. Ruins of a 2-story stone keeper's house; the light tower has collapsed. Pepper has a page for the light station, Robert Brumm has a photo of the ruins, and Bing has a satellite view of the ruins. The building was vacated when the lighthouse was automated in 1933. It deteriorated steadily and the Coast Guard moved the light to a skeletal tower in 1956. The lighthouse was later burned by vandals. It was on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List for a number of years but it has been dropped because of the advanced state of the ruins. In 2011 development plans were approved for a resort and vacation homes on the island; the developers also planned to rebuild the lighthouse. These plans came to nought and by 2017 the island was back on sale. Located on an island in Green Bay about 9 miles (15 km) southeast of Marinette. Accessible only by boat. Owner, site status and site manager unknown. ARLHS USA-945.
Green Island (2)
1956 (station established 1863). Active; focal plane 80 ft; white flash every 6 s. 65 ft (20 m) square pyramidal steel skeletal tower with gallery, painted black. Pepper has a photo by Larry Bell, ARLHS has Paul Schumacher's view from the bay, and Bing has a satellite view. Located about 300 ft (90 m) southeast of the ruins of the historic lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1347; USCG 7-21970.
Peshtigo Reef
1936 (lightship station established 1906). Active; focal plane 72 ft (22 m); white flash every 6 s. 72 ft (22 m) round steel tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a concrete crib. Lighthouse painted white with a single broad red band; lantern is black. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) when needed. Pepper has a page for the ighthouse, Kenny Sallee's photo is at right and ARLHS has a photo by C.W. Bash but the light is only a faint blur in Bing's distant satellite view. A 2021 photo shows that the red band has almost completely weathered away. Sibling of the Green Bay Harbor Entrance Light (next entry). Keepers from Sherwood Point Light originally maintained the lighthouse. The Coast Guard has a photo of Lightship 77 Peshtigo on station in 1932. Located about 3 miles (5 km) off Peshtigo Point southeast of Peshtigo. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-951; USCG 7-21990.
Peshtigo Reef Light
Peshtigo Reef Light, Green Bay, June 2010
ex-Panoramio photo copyright Kenny Sallee; used by permission

Brown County (Green Bay City Area) Lighthouses
Green Bay is an industrial city with a metropolitan population of about 320,000 located at the head of the bay from which it takes its name. It is also at the mouth of the Fox River, which drains Lake Winnebago, the state's largest lake. Lighthouses of Lake Winnebago are described on the Southeastern Wisconsin page.
Green Bay Harbor Entrance
1935. Active; focal plane 72 ft (22 m); red light occulting every 4s. Round cylindrical steel tower rising from circular steel workroom, mounted on concrete caisson; the small lantern is topped by a short radio mast. Lighthouse painted white, lantern red. Fog horn (blast every 15 s) on demand. Wikipedia has the photo by Chris Rand seen at right and ARLHS has Paul Schumacher's photo, but the light is not seen in Google's satellite view. Located about 9 mi (15 km) northeast of Green Bay harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-352; USCG 7-22130.
Long Tail Point (1)
1849. Inactive since 1859. Ruined 65 ft (20 m) round stone tower. Matt Barbian has a 2020 photo, a 2015 closeup photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Obviously endangered, the tower is a permanent resident on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. The lighthouse was replaced in 1859 by a square tower attached to a 2-story keeper's house; Anderson has a photo of that lighthouse. In 1899 a 2-story keeper's house with a lantern atop the roof was build on a square crib just off the tip of the point. The Green Bay Yachting Club has photos (1/3 the way down the page) of the 1899 lighthouse; it was destroyed by a storm in 1973. Anderson has a photo and Google has a satellite view of the modern light (focal plane 35 ft (11 m); red flash every 2.5 s); it is on a cylindrical D9 tower on a circular crib about 250 yd (230 m) off the tip of the point. The keeper's house was sold in 1936, but it collapsed during the effort to relocate it. Located near the end of the point, which projects into the bay north of the city of Green Bay. Accessible only by boat (the point does not connect to the mainland), and the lighthouse site is hard to reach through dense vegetation. Owner: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources. Site manager: Long Tail Point State Wildlife Area. ARLHS USA-452. Active light: USCG 7-22205.
Green Bay Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 89 ft (27 m); green light occulting once every 4 s; also a passing light, focal plane 20 ft (6 m), yellow flash every 4 s. 89 ft (27 m) round cylindrical white tower, mounted on a concrete pier and carrying a rectangular daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a 45 ft (14 m) tower. Located off Long Tail Point about 4 mi (6.5 km) north northeast of the Green Bay waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-22185.
Green Bay Inner Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off; also a passing light, same focal plane, yellow flash every 4 s. 50 ft (15 m) round cylindrical white tower, mounted on a concrete pier and carrying a rectangular daymark painted red with a white vertical stripe. No photo available but Google has a satellite view. The front light is on a 31 ft (9.5 m) tower. Located in the mouth of Dead Horse Bay about 4 mi (6.5 km) north of the Green Bay waterfront. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-22220.

Green Bay Harbor Entrance Light, Green Bay, June 2014
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by Chris Rand
* Grassy Island Range Front
1872. Inactive since 1966 (a decorative light is often displayed). 26 ft (8 m) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with red trim, lantern roof red. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Quentin Reul has a similar 2021 photo, Pepper has a fine page for the two range lights, and Google has a street view and a satellite view of the two lighthouses. These lighthouses were originally located on a pier adjacent to a small island at the entrance to Green Bay harbor; the Coast Guard has a 1914 photo of the light station and Huelse has a historic postcard view of the front light. Members of the Green Bay Yachting Club saved the towers from demolition in 1966, relocating them to the grounds of the club on the east side of the mouth of the Fox River in Green Bay. The club began restoring the front range light in 2000 and the rear light in 2003; a ceremony in November 2005 marked the end of the restoration projects. In 2018 the lighthouses received a $2.6 million bequest from the estates of David and Rita Nelson. This allowed needed repair of the foundations of the towers; they were moved in the fall of 2018 and returned after the repairs were completed in June 2019. The club has a web site for the lighthouses. Located upstream from the end of Bay Beach Road, off the I-43 freeway in downtown Green Bay. There are good views from the municipal boat launching ramp. Site open, towers closed. Owner/site manager: Green Bay Yachting Club. ARLHS USA-334.
* Grassy Island Range Rear
1872. Inactive since 1966 (a decorative light is often displayed). 36 ft (11 m) square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with red trim, lantern roof red. Michael Unruh has a 2018 closeup photo and this is the lighthouse at the left in C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right. See previous entry for historical information. Located upstream from the end of Bay Beach Road, off the I-43 freeway in downtown Green Bay. There are good views from the municipal boat launching ramp. Site open, towers closed. Owner/site manager: Green Bay Yachting Club. ARLHS USA-339.
Grassy Island Range Lights
Grassy Island Range Rear (left) and Front Lights, Green Bay, August 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey

Western Door County Lighthouses
The Door Peninsula, separating Green Bay from Lake Michigan, is about 80 mi (130 km) long, tapering from a width of about 25 m (40 km) at its base. Door County occupies the outer 3/4 of the length of the peninsula; the lower 1/4 is mostly in Keweenaw County with a bit of Brown County in the southwest. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal crosses the center of the peninsula providing a sheltered short cut for smaller ships into Green Bay; the canal has an authorized depth of 20 ft (6 m).
Sherwood Point
1883. Active; focal plane 61 ft (18.5 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 37 ft (11 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached church-style to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. The 4th order Fresnel lens (1892) was removed in October 2002 for display in a replica lantern at the Door County Maritime Museum. Tower painted white with black trim; lantern and keeper's house roofs painted red. Square pyramidal wood bell tower (bell removed). The keeper's house is used as a vacation cottage for Coast Guard personnel. A 2018 photo by Melanie James is at right, Pepper has a good page for the lighthouse, Jason Massey has a 2018 photo, Michael Mathewson has a fine photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This lighthouse marks the western entrance to Sturgeon Bay and the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. Automated in 1983, this was the last staffed station on the U.S. Great Lakes. Located on the west side of the entrance to Sturgeon Bay near the end of county road M. Site and tower normally closed; open during the Door County Lighthouse Festivals in June and October. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-754; USCG 7-22000.
* [Dunlap Reef Range Rear]
1881. Inactive since 1924. 2-story wood keeper's house, formerly with a square cylindrical wood light tower mounted on the roof. The lighthouse was originally built on a limestone and timber crib about 1/2 mile north of the Michigan Street bridge in downtown Sturgeon Bay. The house, with the tower removed, was relocated in 1925 to 411 South Fourth Avenue in the town of Sturgeon Bay, where it has been used as a private residence ever since. Lighthouse Digest has the history of the lighthouse, Google has a street view, and Bing has a satellite view. The reef is now marked by a post light (focal plane 31 ft (10 m); green flash every 4 s; USCG 7-21160). Site closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-937.

Sherwood Point Light, Sturgeon Bay, July 2018
Instagram photo by Melanie James
* Chambers Island (1)
1868. Inactive since 1961. 67 ft (20 m) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. Lower half of the tower is square and upper half octagonal. The lantern has been removed. Tina Tschida's photo is at right, Pepper has a page for the light station, Mary McEnerney has a 2017 closeup photo, Punita Mehta has a 2021 photo, the Coast Guard has a photo taken about 1950, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The building is occupied by resident caretakers, who are working to restore the lighthouse and establish a small museum. Chambers Island is a substantial island about 2.5 mi (4 km) in diameter located near the centerline of Green Bay. Most of the island is privately owned. Transportation to the island is available from Fish Creek. Located at the end of Baseline Road on the northwestern side of the island, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Fish Creek. Site open, lighthouse open in season when the caretaker is present; also open during the Door County Lighthouse Festivals in June and October and other guided tours arranged by the Door County Maritime Museum. Owner/site manager: Town of Gibraltar (Chambers Island Park). . ARLHS USA-150.
* Chambers Island (2)
1961. Active; focal plane 97 ft (30 m); white flash every 6 s. 67 ft (20 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower with gallery, painted black. Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located adjacent to the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1419; USCG 7-21895.

Chambers Island Light, Gibraltar, October 2017
Google Maps photo by Tina Tschida
**** Eagle Bluff
1868. Active; focal plane 75 ft (23 m); white flash every 6 s. 43 ft (13 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. 5th order Fresnel lens (1918) mounted in the lantern, but the active light is a solar-powered 300 mm lens mounted on the gallery. Buildings unpainted brick; roofs red. Similar to Chambers Island Light, except all of the tower is square. The building is a maritime museum operated by the Door County Historical Society. Richie Diesterheft's photo is at the top of this page, Pepper has a fine page with historical information, a 2021 photo is available, Rebecca Kurzendoerfer has a good 2019 photo, Venkata Sudheer has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The Coast Guard restored the lighthouse in 1960-63. On October 16, 2003, a ceremony transferred ownership of the light station to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The roof of the building was replaced in 2014. A 2019 Historic Structures Report identified the need for a thorough retoration of the building, and in 2023 the Historical Society was working to raise $3.3 million for the restoration. Located on Shore Drive at the western entrance to Eagle Harbor, about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Ephraim. Site open (park entry fee), museum and tower open mid May to mid October (admission fee, and there is also a state park entry fee). Owner: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Peninsula State Park). Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum . ARLHS USA-252; USCG 7-21825.

Rock Island and Porte des Morts Passage Lighthouses

These lights guide ships entering or leaving Green Bay. Washington Island, approximately 5 miles (8 km) wide by 6 miles (10 km) long, is located off the tip of the Door Peninsula. The island has a population of about 650 and is accessible by auto ferry from Northport. Most ships use the Rock Island Passage on the north side of Washington Island. Some use the infamous Porte des Morts (Death's Door) Passage between the island and the mainland, the scene of many nineteenth century shipwrecks.

Northern Door County (Washington Island Area) Lighthouses
Boyer Bluff (2)
Date unknown (station established 1933). Active; focal plane 220 ft (67 m); white flash every 6 s. 80 ft (24 m) triangular cylindrical steel skeletal tower. Andy Bach has a view from the lake, a distant 2021 aerial view is available, and Google has a satellite view. This is the highest navigational aid on the U.S. Great Lakes. The present tower replaced a square pyramidal skeletal tower. Located on Boyer Bluff at the northwestern corner of Washington Island. Site status unknown. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1312; USCG 7-21770.
*** Pottawatomie (Rock Island) (1)
1858. Inactive since 1989. 41 ft (12.5 m) square cylindrical wood tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 2-story limestone keeper's house. The lantern was removed in 1988 when the light was moved to a nearby steel skeletal tower but it was restored in 1998. The building is unpainted stone with a red roof; the lantern is painted black. A photo is at right, Pepper has a fine page for the lighthouse, Mervin Busby has a good photo, Gary Dierks has a 2018 street view, and Google has a satellite view. The Friends of Rock Island work for restoration of the lighthouse. The building has been restored to its appearance about 1910; in 2003 the Friends were using grant funds to furnish the lighthouse with period furniture. During the summer volunteer docents spend a week in the lighthouse and provide tours. An acrylic replica of the original 4th order Fresnel lens has been installed. Located on Rock Island off the extreme northeastern end of the Door Peninsula. The island is accessible from late May to mid October by passenger ferry from Washington Island, which is accessible by auto ferry from Northport. The lighthouse is accessible by a 2-mile (3 km) hike from the ferry landing. Site open, lighthouse open to tours daily from Memorial Day weekend (late May) through Columbus Day weekend (mid October). The island is closed in the winter. Owner: Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources. Site manager: Rock Island State Park (Pottawatomie Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-664.
Pottawatomie (Rock Island) (2)
1988 (station established 1858). Active; focal plane 159 ft; white flash every 4 s. Approx. 65 ft (20 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower. Anderson has a photo, a drone view of both lighthouses is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located a few feet west of the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Owner/operator: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-21425.
[Porte des Morts (Plum Island)]
1846. Inactive since 1858. Foundation ruins of this stone lighthouse remain visible near the Plum Island Range Rear Light. Pepper has a photo. When it was active the station was called, in very bad French, Port du Morts. It was replaced by the Pilot Island light (see below). ARLHS USA-1068.

Pottawatomie Light, Rock Island, June 2013
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Ben and Clare
Plum Island Range Rear
1897. Active; focal plane 80 ft (24 m); continuous red light, day and night. 65 ft (20 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower with central cylinder, lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted white; lantern roof is red. The tower also carries a rectangular daymark, painted red with a white vertical stripe. Sibling of Coney Island Light, NY. The 2-story brick keeper's house is abandoned and deteriorating. The front range light (similar to the Bailey's Harbor Range Front Light) was replaced in 1964 by a skeletal tower (focal plane 41 ft; red light, 3 s on, 3 s off). Eric Arthur's 2020 photo is at right, Joanne Suchy has a 2013 photo, Pepper has a page for the lighthouse, Lighthouse Digest has an October 2003 feature on the Pilot Island and Plum Island Lights, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's house and Coast Guard station were listed among Wisconsin's 10 most endangered historic properties in April 2000. The island had become a national wildlife refuge and the Door County Maritime Museum agreed with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to assume responsibility for the light station. A major stumbling block was old fuel spills on the island; in 2004 the Coast Guard completed an $863,000 project to clean these up. However, as delay has piled on delay the Museum backed away from its earlier commitment, and Fish and Wildlife worked with the Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands on a management plan. In October 2007 ownership was finally transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The island is now open for limited public access. In 2015 the 4th order Fresnel lens was removed, restored and placed on display at the Death's Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock.The roof of the keeper's house was replaced in the fall of 2017. In 2018 workers installed cables to bring electricity from the mainland through Plum Island to Washington Island. Work in 2019 included window restoration and lead paint removal; in 2020 new gutters were installed. The light tower was painted in 2023-24 in a $178,600 project funded by grants and gifts to the Friends group. Lighthouse located on the southwest side of the island across the Porte des Morts (Death's Door) Passage from Northport; visible from the Northport-Washington Island ferry. Accessible only by boat. Shoreline Resort, at Ellison Bay, offers sightseeing cruises that pass the site. Site open only from Memorial Day weekend (late May) through Labor Day weekend (early September), keeper's house and tower generally closed; guided tours are available during the spring and fall Door County Lighthouse Festivals. Owner: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Green Bay National Wildlife Reserve). Site manager: Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands . ARLHS USA-608; USCG 7-21310.

Plum Island Range Rear Light, Plum Island, September 2020
Google Maps photo by Eric Arthur
Pilot Island (Porte des Morts Island)
1858. Active; focal plane 48 ft (14.5 m); 2 white flashes every 6 s. 41 ft (12.5 m) square cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 2-story brick keeper's house; solar-powered 300 mm lens. Building is unpainted stone; lantern is painted black. Enlarged in 1904, the building was originally very similar to the Pottawatomie Light. The 1-1/2 story brick fog signal building (1904) is unroofed and in ruins. Pepper has a page for the lighthouse, Joanne Suchy has a photo, Lighthouse Digest has an October 2003 feature on Pilot Island and Plum Island Lights, Jake Heffernan has a 2018 street view, and Google has a satellite view. Endangered. The site is currently abandoned, overgrown, and overrun by a large population of cormorants; the lighthouse is on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. In October 2007 ownership was finally transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Volunteers from the Friends of Pilot and Plum Islands rushed to carry out emergency repairs to the roof of the lighthouse before the onset of winter weather. and a new roof was installed in 2008. Located on a tiny island in the Porte des Morts (Death's Door) Passage between Washington Island and the mainland of the peninsula. The island is closed to the public, but the lighthouse is visible (distantly) from the Northport-Washington Island ferry. Site and tower closed (island is closed to the public). Owner: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Green Bay National Wildlife Reserve). Site manager: Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands . ARLHS USA-600; USCG 7-21325.

Lake Michigan Lighthouses

Eastern Door County Lighthouses
**** Cana Island
1870. Active; focal plane 89 ft (27 m); continuous white light. 81 ft (24.5 m) round tower with lantern and gallery, built of brick but encased in steel since 1902, attached to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. The original 3rd order Fresnel lens is still in use. Lighthouse is white; lantern roof is black. The keeper's house is a museum staffed by the Door County Maritime Museum. Part of Taylor Cole Miller's street view is at right, Pepper has a fine page for the lighthouse, a 2021 drone view is available, Stephen Conn has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. In November 2004 the Bureau of Land Management announced that Door County would receive ownership of the island as a park, and the transfer was completed in 2007. In 2012-13 the museum raised $2.6 million for a major restoration of the lighthouse. This work began with exterior restoration in the fall of 2014 and was complete by 2016. A four-phase project beginning in 2019 upgraded and restored the entire station; it included adding an interpretive center, parking lot and restrooms plus restoration of the keeper's house and several outbuildings as well additional restoration of the lighthouse. Work on the final phase, the interior of the keeper's house, was underway in 2023. Located on a tiny island connected by a low causeway to the mainland, at the end of Cana Island Road off county route Q about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Baileys Harbor (watch carefully for small Cana Island signs at intersections). Parking provided. Important note: depending on the wind and the lake level, the causeway to the lighthouse may be covered with water, so visitors should come with waterproof boots. Site open, keeper's house, oil house, and tower open daily mid May to late October (small admission fee). Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Door County Maritime Museum (Cana Island Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-104; USCG 7-21255.
Baileys Harbor
1853 (Alanson Sweet). Inactive since 1869 but charted as a landmark. 52 ft (16 m) round rubblestone tower with a rare birdcage lantern, attached to 1-1/2 story rubblestone keeper's house. Bear Huelman has a good photo, Mariano Marin-Gomez has a 2019 photo, Pepper has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. The keeper's house, used as a private residence, is in good condition, but the tower has been endangered by decay and there was concern that the lantern is no longer supported and could fall. The lighthouse was added to the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List in June 2001 but it has since been removed. Located on privately-owned Lighthouse Island; there is a distant view from the end of Ridges Road. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-026.

Cana Island Light, Baileys Harbor, August 2015
Google Maps street view by Taylor Cole Miller
* Baileys Harbor Range Front (1)
1870. Reactivated (inactive 1969-2015, now privately maintained); continuous red light. 21 ft (6.5 m) octagonal cylindrical wood tower on a square base. Lighthouse painted white, roof black. The Ridges Sanctuary has a page for the two range lighthouses, Pepper also has a page, Bear Huelman has a closeup photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. This light and the rear range light are siblings of the lights at Presque Isle Range, Michigan (see the Northeastern Lower Peninsula page). A wooden boardwalk joins the front and rear lights. The range was replaced in 1969 by a directional light on a short skeletal mast in front of the historic tower. In 1996 the historic towers were rewired and beacons were installed. In August 2015 the directional light was deactivated and removed and the range lights were placed in official operation as private aids to navigation. Located on Ridges Road on the north side of the harbor. Site open, tower closed. Owner: Door County. Site manager: Ridges Sanctuary (Baileys Harbor Range Lights). ARLHS USA-936; USCG 7-21228.
*** Baileys Harbor Range Rear
1870. Reactivated (inactive 1969-2015, now privately maintained); continuous white light. 35 ft (10.5 m): square cupola-style lantern mounted on the roof of 1-1/2 story wood keepers house. Lighthouse painted white; roofs are red. John Erickson's photo is at right, Jim Frazier has a photo, a September 2007 closeup photo is available, Pepper has a page for the range lights, and Google has a satellite view and a street view through trees. When the light was electrified in 1930 the house was leased to the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Baileys Harbor as its parsonage. In 1956 the church gave up its lease and the house was transferred to the Ridges Sanctuary; for many years it provided a residence for the Sanctuary's naturalist. The exterior of the building was restored in 2017 and the interior is being restored and refurnished to its 1923 appearance, when the last keeper was present. Beginning in summer 2023, volunteer docents will spend one-week stays in the lighthouse. Located off Ridges Road on the north side of the harbor. Site open; tours of the house are available daily 11 am through 2 pm, June through mid October. Owner: Door County. Site manager: Ridges Sanctuary (Baileys Harbor Range Lights). ARLHS USA-027; USCG 7-21229.

Range Rear Light, Baileys Harbor, September 2018
Wikimedia Creative Commons photo by John Erickson

Southern Door County: Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouses
* Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal North Pierhead (2)
1903 (station established 1882). Active; focal plane 40 ft (12 m); red flash every 2.5 s. 39 ft (12 m) round cylindrical cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-1/2 story steel fog signal building. The 6th order Fresnel lens (1881) was recently replaced by a modern 300 mm lens. The entire lighthouse is painted bright red. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) on demand. Richie Diesterheft's photo is at right, Pepper has a page for the lighthouse, Jeff Kuhns has a 2018 photo, Micah Oberholtzer has a 2022 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Google has a satellite view. Matthew Keeney's street view also shows the South Pierhead light, a standard "D9" tower. Built in the 1880s, the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal connects the main part of Lake Michigan to Green Bay, cutting through the narrowest part of the Door Peninsula. The lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA in 2010, and when no qualified recipients were found it went on auction sale in July 2014. It was sold in September for $48,500 to Gordon Krist of Paris, Kentucky. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the canal entrance. Accessible in good weather by walking the pier from the Coast Guard station at the foot of Utah Street. Views from adjacent Portage Park. Site open and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. . ARLHS USA-822; USCG 7-21005.
* Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal (Canal Station)
1899 (steel bracing added in 1903). Active; focal plane 107 ft (32.5 m); red flash every 10 s. 98 ft (30 m) round, narrowly cylindrical steel tower with hexagonal pyramidal steel bracing, lantern and gallery; 3rd order Fresnel lens. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. Sibling of Devils Island Light (see the Northern Wisconsin page), but with somewhat different bracing. Two 2-1/2 story wood keeper's house buildings. Active Coast Guard station. Frank Posts's 2023 photo is below right, 2021 photo, a winter closeup and a wider view are available, Chelle Rice has a good photo, Pepper has an excellent page for the lighthouse, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located at the end of Canal Road on the north side of the canal entrance. Site open, tower usually closed but open during the Door County Lighthouse Festivals in late May and mid October. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-821; USCG 7-20995.

Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal North Pierhead Light, Sturgeon Bay, May 2013
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Richie Diesterheft
* Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 46 ft (14 m); continuous white light. 40 ft (12.5 m) square skeletal tower carrying a daymark colored red with a white vertical stripe. Google has a street view and a satellite view. The range guides vessels eastbound in the canal. Located on Canal Road on the north side of the canal about 2 mi (3.2 km) southeast of Sturgeon Bay. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-21070.
Strawberry Creek West Jetty
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 ft (12 m); continuous red light. Approx. 36 ft (11 m) square white skeletal tower. A drone view of the two lights is available and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the marina entrance. Site and tower closed (private property). USCG 7-21090.
Strawberry Creek East Jetty
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 ft (12 m); continuous green light. Approx. 36 ft (11 m) square white skeletal tower. A drone view of the two lights is available and Google has a satellite view. Strawberry Creek is a condominium development with a private marina of the south side of the canal. Located on the east side of the marina entrance. Site and tower closed (private property). USCG 7-21085.

Kewaunee County Lighthouses
Algoma Pierhead (2)
1908 (rebuilt in 1932; station established 1893). Active; focal plane 48 ft (14.5 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 42 ft (12.5 m) round cylindrical 2-stage steel tower with lantern and gallery. The entire lighthouse is painted bright red. Fog horn (blast every 10 s) on demand. Peter Ciro's photo is at the top of this page, Pepper has a good page for the lighthouse, a good closeup photo is available, Jon Lorenz has a photo, Neal Grosskopf has a 2016 street view, and Google has a satellite view. The upper stage of the lighthouse replaced an 1893 tower in 1908. The lower section was relocated from Muskegon, Michigan, in 1932. After an inferior repainting in 2011 the lighthouse faded within a few weeks to a pale pink; Joe Grant has an August 2013 photo. After numerous complaints the Coast Guard announced in September 2013 it would remove all paint and repaint the tower in a proper red. In May 2014 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. City officials submitted a proposal for ownership. After two other parties who had expressed interest withdrew, the city was annouced as the new owner. As of October 2019 the transfer of ownership has not yet occurred but was expected soon. In June 2017 the Coast Guard spent nearly $200,000 to replace the tower's foundation and windows and paint the lighthouse and attached catwalk. In December 2017 the Coast Guard announced plans to replace the 5th order Fresnel lens (1895) with a modern LED optic. Replacement of the lens was delayed until June 2019. Following restoration the lens will go on display at the North Point Lighthouse Museum in Milwaukee. Located at the end of the breakwater on the north side of the Ahnapee River entrance, off WI 42 in downtown Algoma. Good view from the foot of Lake Street on the south side of the river. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. . ARLHS USA-004; USCG 7-20975.
 

Ship Canal Light, Sturgeon Bay, September 2023
Google Maps photo by Frank Post
 
* Kewaunee Pierhead (3)
1931 (light added to 1891 fog signal building; station established 1889). Active; focal plane 45 ft (13.5 m); continuous white light. 43 ft (13 m) square cylindrical steel tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 2-story steel fog signal building. Lantern room transferred from the 1912 tower. Lighthouse painted white with black trim; lantern roof is red. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) on demand. The diaphone fog signal formerly used here was restored (1995) and relocated to the Duluth South Breakwater Outer Light in Minnesota. A photo by Dan Williams is at right, Anderson's page has several photos, Pepper also has a good page, Bear Huelman has a good photo, a 2017 closeup is available, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Bill Pevlor has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. The second (1912) lighthouse was removed in 1931 and installed in 1938 as the Chicago Southeast Guidewall Light (see the Illinois page). In 2009 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA and in September 2010 the National Park Service approved the City of Kewaunee's application for ownership. Ownership was transferred in September 2011. The city's page for the lighthouse has many photos. A support group, the Friends of Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse , was established, and the lighthouse was restored in a series of projects beginning in 2015. In June 2019 the Coast Guard replaced the original 5th order Fresnel lens (transferred from the 1912 tower) with a modern LED light; after restoration the lens will go on exhibit at the Kewaunee County History Center. Fundraising for a replica of the lens is underway. In 2022 the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Historically accurate windows were installed in 2023. Located at the end of the breakwater on the south side of the Kewaunee River Entrance, three blocks east of the WI 29/WI 42 intersection in downtown Kewaunee. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower generally closed but tours are offered during the Door County Lighthouse Festivals and other special events. Owner/site manager: City of Kewaunee (Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-1250; USCG 7-20955.
Kewaunee Shoal
2006. Active; focal plane 43 ft (13 m); green flash every 4 s. 43 ft (13 m) round cylindrical D9 tower, white with a green horizontal band, mounted on a large round crib. Anderson has a small photo, C.M. Hanchey has a distant view, and Bing has a satellite view. Located on a shoal about 2 km (1.25 mi) east southeast of the pierhead lighthouse. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-20950.

Kewaunee Pierhead Light, Kewaunee, December 2020
Google Maps photo by Dan Williams

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Southern Upper Michigan | South: Southeastern Wisconsin

Return to the Lighthouse Directory index

Checked and revised November 8, 2023. Lighthouses: 29. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.