Wisconsin - Sheboygan Breakwater Light

This light is located at Sheboygan, WI. The name means "Where the river disappears under the ground." There is a history of multiple lighthouses built in this harbor area. In 1839 the first lighthouse to serve the harbor was built on what was known as North Sheboygan Point. That light stood for two decades before being replaced in 1860 by a newer version. At the beginning of Dec 1873 a lighthouse was built on the north pier of the harbor. A fire engulfed that light in March 1880, and three months later a new building replaced the burned out structure. Harbor improvements and an extension of the harbor pier closely followed the breakwater light. Originally this light was a cone shaped metal tower with a diameter of 12 1/2 feet at its base. It was equipped with a cast iron lantern and was slightly more than 50 feet tall. The light was rebuilt and moved several times. The present light was a skeletal steel pier-head tower constructed off site and then placed here circa 1915. This was the typical pier-head style light, topped with a circular parapet and lantern room. At the time of my visit in 2002, it was not known when or why the lantern room was removed. The light tower now stands 50 feet tall and has a plastic lens but no lantern room. This was an active light at the time of my visit.