With over 250 miles of rocky shoreline, the Door Peninsula was a treacherous place to navigate in the 1800’s which resulted in the construction of several lighthouses. In fact there are more lighthouses and light beacons in Door County than any other county in the US. Some of them are easy to get to, some hard to reach, and some are private property and all together off limits. This guide will show you the best lighthouses to see around the peninsula and how to reach them.
- Pilot Island Lighthouse
- Cana Island Lighthouse
- Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse
- Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
- Pottawatomie Lighthouse
Pilot Island Lighthouse
Pilot Island Lighthouse is located in Porte Des Morts Passage, or Death’s Door Passage, at the end of the Door Peninsula. Due to the islands small size and low profile it was easily hit by ships trying to pass into Green Bay so in 1858 a lighthouse was constructed on the tiny island. Cream City Brick was shipped up Lake Michigan from Milwaukee to be used in it’s construction. A fog horn was installed and the lighthouse was staffed by one lighthouse keeper and one or two assistants. Even after the light was installed ships still managed to hit the island. In 1891 the Forest hit the reef on the south end of the island and one year later the JE Gilmore and the AP Nichols hit nearly the exact same spot. Today the remains of all three ships can be seen in 20 feet of water just off the island. Eventually the light was automated and today it is powered by an LED. The island is owned and managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service and is closed to the public. During the summer it is a favorite nesting ground for seagulls, pelicans, and especially cormorants. Due to toxicity of the cormorants droppings all of the trees have been decimated giving the island a very spooky and eerie look. It is one of the most remote lighthouses in Door County and is one of the highlights of the Death’s Door Tour offered by Door County Adventure Rafting.
Cana Island Lighthouse
Perhaps the most famous and recognizable lighthouse in Door County would be the one on Cana Island. It is one of the few lighthouses you can climb to the top of and is the only lighthouse to retain its rare Fresnel lens at the top with helps project a beam of light up to 20 miles into Lake Michigan. The lighthouse was originally constructed in 1869 and lit in 1870, it is 89 feet tall which makes it the tallest lighthouse in Door County. Like Pilot Island Lighthouse, Cana Island Lighthouse was constructed out of Cream City Brick but after about 20 years it began to deteriorate. To help protect and preserve the brick, giant metal plates were riveted around the lighthouse which is why it looks like it is constructed out of metal today. Several shipwreck occurred around Cana Island but the largest was M. J. Bartelme that ran aground in dense fog in 1928. Saying it is an island is also a bit of a stretch. It’s connected to the mainland by a 100 yard long causeway that can have water occasionally covering it. Some years the water level is high enough you might wade through 3 feet of water to get there but most years you can walk there without ever getting your feet wet. During the last high water levels the Door County Maritime Museum purchased a tractor and wagon to transport people across the causeway so visitors wouldn’t have to get their feet wet walking through the water. Apparently it was such a hit they still use it to bring people over to the island even when the lake level is low. The best way to see this lighthouse along with the shipwrecks of Door County is on the Lakeside Tour with Door County Adventure Rafting.
Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse
Not too far away from Cana Island Lighthouse is the least known lighthouse in Door County on a small island on the far side of Baileys Harbor, called the Birdcage Lighthouse. The main reason so few people know about this one is because it is private property but it certainly doesn’t help that the lighthouse is on a small, inaccessible island, surrounded by private property. In fact there are people who have lived in Door County their entire lives and have no idea this lighthouse even exists. It was constructed out of limestone rock in 1852 which makes it one of the oldest lighthouses in Door County. It’s use as a lighthouse was short lived and by 1866 the government decided it was defective. The closing of this lighthouse in 1870 coincided with the opening of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights and Cana Island Lighthouse. After it’s closing it was purchased by an individual and has been considered private property ever since. Since you can’t tour this lighthouse the only way to see the Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse is on a scenic boat tour. Door County Adventure Rafting offers tours to this lighthouse on their Lakeside boat tour which departs from the Bailey Harbor Marina.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Another popular lighthouse for visitors to Door County would be Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, located in Peninsula State Park. Guided tours of the inside are available during the summer months and offer a fascinating glimpse into what the life of a lighthouse keeper was like. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse was originally build in 1868 and constructed using Cream City Brick. It was built to help guide ships through the Strawberry Island Channel and Chambers Island. This area was so difficult to navigate through another lighthouse was constructed on the far north end of Chambers Island as well. It was automated in the 1920’s but didn’t open to the public for tours until the 1960’s after it was restored by the Door County Historical Society. Several years ago the Fresnel lens was removed and replaced with a solar powered LED light. Several scenic boat tours bring you past Eagle Bluff Lighthouse but the most exciting one would be the Bayside Tour with Door County Boat Tours.
Potawatomie Lighthouse
At the northern most point of Door County is Rock Island State Park and at the far north end of Rock Island would be Potawatomie Lighthouse perched on top of a 140 foot bluff. It was originally lit in 1836 and is the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin. The original structure was demolished and replaced in 1858 by the lighthouse at the site today. It is constructed out of cut limestone rock and is identical to the lighthouse on Pilot Island. At some point after it was automated the Fresnel lens went missing so the one you see today is an exact replica of the original. There is a small cemetery nearby where the lighthouse keeper David Corbin is buried along with the remains of several unnamed sailors who’s bodies washed up on Rock Island. Tours of the lighthouse are available during the summer months and the inside of the lighthouse has been restored to what it would have looked like in the late 1800’s. From the lamp room at the top you’ll get amazing views of the islands further north in Michigan waters including St. Martin Island and Poverty Island. To get here you must first take the Washington Island Ferry across Death’s Door then drive to the north end of Washington Island to Jackson Harbor where the Karfi Ferry is docked. It’s possible to camp on Rock Island which is also highly recommended. Be aware: there are no cars on Rock Island, it is hiking only. There is a lot of history on the island and hiking trails to keep you exploring for days. It is perhaps the most peaceful place in all of Door County.
