Wisconsin -Rawley Point Lighthouse

The Rawley Point, also known as the Twin River Point Lighthouse. It's not clear exactly when a lighthouse was first constructed here. Records indicate the first lighthouse in this general area was built in 1853 at the Twin Rivers Point. The original had a brick tower that stood 85 feet tall and was attached to the keeper's dwelling by a hallway. The remains of the original circular tower can still be seen at the site. In 1894 the top portion of that tower was demolished and a shorter tower became part of the keeper's quarters. One result is a curious round living room that remaines inside the dwelling. A fire damaged the keeper's quarters in 1962.
The current eight sided pyramidal erector style lighthouse, the only one of this type on the Great Lakes, stands 111 feet, the second tallest lighthouse in WI. It is an alteration and expansion of a lighthouse from the Chicago River in 1893 after the World's Fair. The light tower has a central cylinder iron stair containing 132 steps with support supplied by a maze of exterior steel frames. There is a double-decker set of watch-rooms with ornate fencing, placed one atop the other, below the lantern room. These dual watch-rooms are another unique feature among WI lights. The light tower was constructed next to the two and a half story keeper's dwelling. In 1920 the light was electrified. The original lens was in use until 1952 when a piece of the lens broke and then was replaced with the current twin-bull's eye rotating beacon which can be seen for 28 miles. At the time of my visit in 2002, this was an active lighthouse but the tower and quarters were off limits to the public. The Coast Guard utilized the quarters for housing and as a military recreation cottage.