lighthouses - Door County

Pottawatomie Lighthouse
Towering over 300 miles of picturesque
shoreline, you will find historic lighthouses
standing testament to Door County's rich
maritime heritage. In the 19th and early
20th centuries, these landmarks of
yesteryear assisted sailors in navigating
the lake and bay waters of the Door
Peninsula and surrounding islands.
Plum Island Range
Light
Chambers Island
Lighthouse
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Today, many are still operational and
welcome visitors with compelling stories
and breathtaking views. Relax and step
back in time. Plan your Door County
lighthouse tour today.
Public access and tour availability
varies by lighthouse. Please see
individual lighthouse descriptions for
details.
LIGHTHOUSE
&
LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM TOURS
LIGHTHOUSES
of Door County
Pilot Island
Lighthouse
Please contact businesses for current tour schedules
and pick up/drop off locations. Bon Voyage!
Cana Island
Lighthouse
Old Baileys Harbor Light
Baileys Harbor Range Light
Sherwood Point
Lighthouse
Canal Station Lighthouse
Canal Station Pier-head Lighthouse
DoorCounty.com
1015 Green Bay Rd | Sturgeon Bay
800-527-3529 | [email protected]
For more information
including a complete list of scenic tours, boat
rental and charter fishing companies, go to
DoorCounty.com.
Classic Boat Tours of Door County, 9145 Spring Rd. - Fish Creek
920.421.2080
Door County Adventure Rafting, 4150 Maple St. - Fish Creek
920.559.6106
Door County Bike Tours, 9914 Water St. - Ephraim
920.839.5088
Door County Kayak Tours, 8442 Hwy 42 - Fish Creek
920.868.1400
Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N. Madison Ave. - Sturgeon Bay
920.743.5958
Door County Nature and Travel, P.O. Box 136 - Baileys Harbor
920.493.1572
Door County Trolley, 8030 Hwy 42 - Egg Harbor
920.868.1100
Fish Creek Scenic Boat Tours, 9448 Spruce St. - Fish Creek
920.421.4442
Fish Tales Charters, Departs from Gordon Lodge - Baileys Harbor
920.868.1663
Grizzly Tours, Inc., 3538 Park Dr. - Sturgeon Bay
920.493.7315
Lakeshore Adventures, 8113 Hwy 57 - Baileys Harbor
920.493.3474
Segway the Door Tours, 3903 Hwy 42, Fish Creek
920.376.0256
Shoreline Scenic Cruises - Gills Rock, Shoreline Restaurant
920.421.0922
Shoreline Scenic Cruises - Sister Bay, Sister Bay Village Marina
920.854.4707
UP North Helicopters - Door County
651.332.0374
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Pottawatomie Lighthouse
Location: On the north end of Rock Island State Park (Island
ONLY accessible by boat).
Location: Perched on a bluff above Green Bay, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is
easily accessed by Shore Rd in Peninsula State Park. A map is available
at either park entrance.
History: Established 1836; rebuilt 1858, automated 1956.
History: Built in 1868, three keepers manned the light until 1926, when
the navigational mechanism was automated.
Welcome: Rock Island State Park is open all year and is
accessible by boat or the “Karfi” ferry. Grounds are always
open, but it is over a mile walk to reach the lighthouse. While
the lantern room has been fully restored, it is not an active
light. The active beacon shines from a separate skeleton
tower located nearby. Open Saturday of Memorial Day
Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend.
Daily 10 AM to 4 PM.
Tours: The Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Museum is open mid-May through
mid-October. Hours of operation are 10am-4pm. Guided tours are
available daily, every half hour with the last tour at 3:30 pm. Adults $7;
Students $4 (13-17 years of age); Youth $2 (6-12 years of age);
Children no charge (5 years of age and under).
Information: (920) 421-3636 or online at
www.EagleBluffLighthouse.org. Maintained and operated by
the Door County Historical Society. Please call
ahead for special events and group tours.
Information: (920) 847-2235
Baileys Harbor Range Light
1852
Information: Contact the Ridges at
(920) 839-2802.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
History: Established 1883, automated 1983. This was the last
manned lighthouse on the US Great Lakes.
Restrictions: The entire facility is operated as a rest and
recuperation area for active members of the U.S. military on a
rental basis. Your cooperation in maintaining the privacy of the
occupants is appreciated. Lighthouse is only open to the public
during the Annual Lighthouse Festival in June
1869
1868
1869
1868
Cana Island Lighthouse
Old Baileys Harbor Light
Location: 8800 East Cana Island Rd, Baileys Harbor. (Take County Q,
off Hwy 57, at the north edge of Baileys Harbor to Cana Island Rd.
Two and a half miles. Sharp right turn on Cana Island Rd). Parking is
very limited. Please respect private property.
Built in 1852, removed from service 1869. This unusual
structure, with its unique bird cage lantern room, is located on
an island near the town of Baileys Harbor. It was abandoned
in 1869 when the Lighthouse Board decided to build Range
Lights in Baileys Harbor instead of repairing this light. This light
is privately owned.
History: Established 1869, automated 1944. The island is operated
as a museum by the Door County Maritime
Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society. www.dcmm.org.
Tours: The grounds are open daylight hours year round, lighthouse is
open daily from 10am-4:30pm (May 15 - Oct 31). There are age and
height restrictions for children to safely climb the tower. They must be
5 years or older and/or 42 inches tall.
Chambers Island Lighthouse
Location: Located on the northwest corner of Chambers Island.
This lighthouse is only accessible by boat.
History: Established 1868, automated 1961.
Welcome: Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Fri - Sun.
Information: Public restrooms available. Museum inside
lighthouse. No public transportation is available to the
lighthouse. (920) 868-3100.
History: Built in 1899, automated
in 1972. The bustling Coast Guard
operated station is located at the
mouth of the Sturgeon Bay ship
canal. Grounds are only open to
the public during the Annual
Lighthouse Festival in June.
Restrictions: The range light structures are not open to the
public, but the grounds are open.
Built 1858, automated 1962. The original light on Plum Island,
built in 1848, no longer exists because ship owners and captains
complained to the Lighthouse Board that the Plum Island light
was too far to the west, so President Buchanan built the
lighthouse on Pilot Island. Built of Cream City brick, this graceful
structure is in dire need of repair. The light is visible only by water
and there is no trespassing on Coast Guard property.
1858
Location: Northern bank of the
entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Ship
Canal.
History: Established 1869, automated 1923. Between 1869
and 1969 these range lights were used by navigators to safely
enter Baileys Harbor. When the unique upper and lower lights
were lined up with one light over the other, the sailor knew
he/she was in safe water. These lights were removed from
service in 1969 and a directional light was placed atop a 31-foot
tower on the shore (near the lower range light). In 1993, the
Ridges Sanctuary restored both range lights.
Pilot Island Lighthouse
1836
Canal Station Lighthouse
Location: At the North end of Baileys Harbor at 8270 Hwy 57 or
follow Ridges Road for a half mile to the beach parking lot.
Admission: Entrance to the island, keeper’s quarters and light tower ,
$12 adults/ $9 kids over 5, and free for 4 and under. Island and
keepers quarters only , $7 Adults / $4 kids (5-17 years).
Children 4 and under and members are free.
Information: Door County Maritime Museum
& Lighthouse Preservation Society.
(920) 743-5958.
1899
1883
1882
Canal Station Pier-head Lighthouse
Location: This fully operating US Coast Guard station is located at the Lake Michigan
end of the Sturgeon Bay ship canal. North of the Bay View Bridge, turn east onto
Utah St, right on Cove Rd, left on Canal Rd to 2501 Canal Rd.
History: Land purchased 1836: Pier Head navigation light built 1882. Station built
with a tower light 1899, renovated 1903, automated 1972.
Restrictions: No public restrooms. Parking is limited to the outer
parking lot. The lower level break wall (pier) is the only section
open to the public. (Those in wheelchairs may be driven to the
breakwater to be discharged or picked up).
1896
Plum Island Range Light
Location: Between Washington Island
and peninsula tip. Rear range light tower,
keepers’ dwelling and fog signal building
can be seen from the Washington Island
Ferry. Front range light can only be seen
from a boat approaching Death’s Door
from Lake Michigan.
Information: Narrated boat tours are
available through the Island Clipper.
Visible from the water. (920) 854-2972.