In their prime, lighthouses played a huge role on Wisconsin’s busy shorelines as beacons of light to guide sailors through both calm and rough waters. Today, their purpose leans more toward ornamental, offering a look into an often romanticized era.
"(Wisconsin) is just a wonderful haven for a lot of things related to the water," said Ken Wardius, co-author of "Wisconsin Lighthouses: A Photographic and Historical Guide." "Most people see a lighthouse and ... they have a fond thinking in their mind ... it's a symbol of a bygone era certainly, that people were watching out for people when it was needed."
Wisconsin is home to 48 lighthouses, two-thirds of which are on Lake Michigan’s shoreline. The oldest, Pottawatomie Lighthouse, dates back to 1836 on Rock Island in Door County.
Lighthouses helped make sense of the chaos of thousands of boats transporting goods on waterways, but working one was a solitary, dangerous and hard life, said Barb Wardius, co-author of the book.
"It was a very sought after position," she said. "They lived in beautiful homes that were provided by the government. But you had to be really somebody that could take care of yourself ... these are tough folks."
Barb and Ken Wardius have been to all 48 of the lighthouses in Wisconsin. Here are four of their picks from around the state.
Pete Markham (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Located on Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, Raspberry Island light began operating in 1863, and was restored in 2006.
"Not only is the outside of the building restored, but also the interior," he said. "Many times the outside looks OK but when you get in, if you can get in, the inside is not so well-kept."
The lighthouse is close to the mainland and the most accessible of the Apostle Island lighthouses. Visitors can access it by boat or kayak during the summer season.
Photo Phiend (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Sitting 76 feet above Green Bay’s waters, the lighthouse is located in Peninsula State Park in Door County. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse has guided sailors through the narrow Strawberry channel since 1868.
Today, the lighthouse has been restored to its style of the early twentieth century, equipped with some of the keepers’ original furniture. The Door County Historical Society offers tours from mid-May through mid-October.
"They offer a wonderful tour, as well as the inside of the light, and you can climb part of a tower," he said.
cmh2315fl (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Built in 1866 in Kenosha, the Southport Lighthouse was functional until 1906, then it was converted into a weather signal tower until the 1960s. Restored in the mid-1990s, it is constructed of Milwaukee Cream City brick and has a conical shape.
"Some of the best," he said. "We're very fortunate to have as many beacons in the state that are in decent shape."
Southport Lighthouse is open to visitors from May through October.
Jim Bauer (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Perched overlooking Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac’s lighthouse was built in 1933 and stands at 40 feet tall.
While built more for ornamental purposes than for guiding boats for commerce, the lighthouse has become a symbol of the community, he said. Visitors can tour the lighthouse from May to October.