Wisconsin - Bailey's Harbor Range Lights

                       Bailey's Harbor "Upper" Range Light.

                         Bailey's Harbor "Lower" Range Light

These range lights are located at The Ridges at Bailey's Harbor, WI. They were built in 1869 to replace the Bailey's Harbor Lighthouse which I featured in a previous posting. These were once used to aid vessels safely into the harbor port. The mariner had to align the white light in the 'upper' lighthouse (range light) directly over the red light in the 'lower' tower, in order to achieve proper alignment for safe travel to the port. I visited these lights in 1998 and took these pictures from the boardwalk that spans approximately 700 ft between the two range lighthouses.

Wisconsin - Bailey's Harbor Lighthouse

Bailey's Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1853 and is located at the harbor of the same name in WI. I took this picture from across the harbor at a long distance, and although it does not show well, this lighthouse has a very unusual lantern room made in the style of a bird cage. The tower is approximately 52 feet tall. The light was operational until 1869 when it was deactivated and replaced by two range lights due to the lighthouse not providing safe guidance of ships into the harbor. I visited this lighthouse in 1998 as well as the aforementioned range lights.  

Wisconsin - Cana Island Lighthouse

Cana Island Lighthouse was built in 1869 and is located at Bailey's Harbor, WI. The lighthouse sets on a rocky Lake Michigan outcropping, and to reach it you have to wade across a rocky causeway to the island. At the time of my visit in 1998, this light was an active navigational aid operated via automation since 1944. The grounds around the lighthouse were maintained by the Door County Maritime Museum under lease with the U.S. Coast Guard. The Keepers' house was open to the public.

Wisconsin - Sherwood Point Lighthouse

The Sherwood Point Lighthouse was built in 1883 and is located at Sturgeon Bay, WI. It is situated on the point where Sturgeon Bay opens into Green Bay. It was the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The light was automated in 1983. At the time of my visit in 1998, this lighthouse facility was used as a private retreat house for the U.S. Coast Guard personnel. It was closed to the public. The light spot in the middle of the picture resulted from my use of a 500mm lens with 2X coupler. It was needed due to my distance from the lighthouse.

Wisconsin - Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse

The Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse is located at Kewaunee, WI and marks the entrance to the Kewaunee Harbor. Here the Ahnapee River flows into Lake Michigan. This lighthouse was built in 1931 to replace two range lights that helped mariners navigate into the Kewaunee Harbor. At the time of my visit in 1998 this was an active lighthouse. The light was a fifth order Fresnel Lens which the locals said could be seen from 15 miles out on the lake. (Reference: "Range Lights", see my posting for Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse for definition of how they worked compared to the single lighthouse.)

Wisconsin - Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse

The Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse is located in the harbor at Algoma, WI on Lake Michigan. It was built to replace two range lights constructed in the 1800's which provided navigational assistance to fishing boats returning to the harbor. In 1908 the first section of this tower was built, then in 1932 the tower was heightened to enable the light to be more visible further out on the lake. At the time of my visit in 1998 this was an active light and automated. (The term "range lights" may not be familiar to all, so the following information is provided:  Range Lights were two fixed lights at different elevation. The front range light was located close to the harbor entrance while the rear range light was located about a half mile back from the front light. The mariner would steer his ship/boat so as to keep the two lights aligned one above the other. This proper alignment would guide the mariner and his ship safely into the harbor.)

Wisconsin - Sturgeon Bay Station Lighthouse

The Sturgeon Bay Station Lighthouse was built in 1898. At the time of my visit in 1998, this was an active lighthouse standing in the center of a working Coast Guard station located on the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay, WI. The condition of the tower and buildings reflected that the Coast Guard personnel at this station took pride in maintaining these assets. The red roofs were typical of most Coast Guard buildings that I saw during my travels to find lighthouses. 

Wisconsin - Sturgeon Bay N. Pierhead Light

The Sturgeon Bay North Pierhead Light is located in the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay, WI. The original light was built in 1899. It is the headlight at the tip of the north breakwall that jets out well into Lake Michigan. At the time of my visit in 1998, this light was active and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.