The North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee, WI is the third
lighthouse built there. The first, a 30 ft tall tower was erected in 1838 but
operation didn’t start until 1839. Its source of light was provided by seven lanterns in
the lantern room. Location of the lighthouse was quickly determined to be unfavorable as it
did not enable the light to provide proper navigational assistance.
In 1855, a second tower 28 feet tall was built approximately
100 feet east of the present lighthouse on a 56 foot bluff overlooking the lake. The
tower’s lantern room housed a fourth-order Fresnel lens. Eventually, erosion
forced officials to replace that lighthouse. So, in 1887 a new lighthouse tower was
completed at a height of 39 feet, and it was built entirely of bolted cast
iron sections.
Years later in 1912, a steel plate lower section of a tower was built, and the aforementioned cast iron tower disassembled and then reassembled on top of the new steel lower section. This procedure raised the light to a height of 74 feet above ground and above the lake to a new height of almost 160 feet. This lighthouse operated until 1994 when it was deactivated.
Years later in 1912, a steel plate lower section of a tower was built, and the aforementioned cast iron tower disassembled and then reassembled on top of the new steel lower section. This procedure raised the light to a height of 74 feet above ground and above the lake to a new height of almost 160 feet. This lighthouse operated until 1994 when it was deactivated.
Eventually, the lighthouse was transferred to Milwaukee County. They leased the property to the North Point Lighthouse Friends. You can visit this beautiful and unique lighthouse located on N. Wahl Ave in Lake Park, Milwaukee, WI.
