Lighthouses of Door County, Wisconsin that I Have Visited

My friends and I visited Canal Station Pier Head Lighthouse on a cool and windy day. I enjoyed the walk down to see the lighthouse. It is located at a fully operational US Coast Guard Station at the Lake Michigan end of Sturgeon Bay ship canal. The Pierhead lighthouse was built in 1882. I was very impressed with the style and structure of this lighthouse.

I enjoyed my walk to Baileys Harbor Range Light. It is located at the North end of Baileys Harbor. The lighthouse was established in 1869. The range lights were used to guide ships safely into Baileys Harbor. The sailor was in safe water when the upper and lower lights were lined up. I loved the flowers that were planted on the grounds. The area was scenic and majestic.

I loved walking around the grounds where Cana Island Lighthouse is located. It is located on the North edge of Baileys harbor. The lighthouse was established in 1869. The lighthouse is open from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, but make sure you are there by 4:00 PM. The lighthouse is open from May 15th thru Oct. 31st. A child must be five years old and at least 42 inches tall to climb the tower safely.

I enjoyed my climb to the top of the tower. The steps leading up to the building were cast iron and pie shaped. There are 102 cast iron steps to the top of the building. I was impressed with the Fresnel lens, which consists of circular prisms that gather light from a lamp. The lamp bends the beam, making a much stronger ray of sunshine. The lamp was initially fueled by oil, lard, and later on kerosene, and finally, it was electrified. The Cana Island Lighthouse is an operating aid to navigation under US Coast Guard Jurisdiction.

We had an excellent guide. She told us about the shipwrecks that occurred over the years due to the horrific storms. She told us about the lighthouse keeper. The keeper had reported huge waves that broke into the house and flooded it. He had to wait to be taken off the island until it was safe for people to come and rescue him and his family. Lighthousekeepers were courageous heroes for helping save the life of many people by doing their job every day with strength and courage beyond the call of duty. God Bless all of the lighthouse keepers throughout the years. Without them, many lives would have been lost.

I love to look at lighthouses. I would highly recommend looking at these magnificent lighthouses. They have a vast and incredible history. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

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