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On The Water On the Water Food and Lodging
DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN, USA -- What is it about lighthouses that elicit such fascination and intrigue? Ask any number of lighthouse lovers and you’re likely to receive an equal number of different answers. But no matter what the source of the love of lighthouses, aficionados will find one of the highest concentrations of the beacons anywhere in the country in Door County, Wisconsin.
With 300 miles of shoreline, much of it rocky, the sailors of the 19th and early 20th centuries needed the lighthouses to safely navigate the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay that envelop the Door Peninsula its surrounding islands. It took ten lighthouses to do the job.
Easy Access Lighthouses, Tours, and Lighthouse Week
The most accessible of the Door County Lighthouses are: Cana Island Lighthouse, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Canal Station Lighthouse, and Baileys Harbor Range Lights. These four lighthouses are accessible by vehicle and visitors are welcome. If you don’t feel like driving, hop aboard the Door County Trolley for one of its popular lighthouse tours that visits all four of these lighthouses and includes a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide and a stop at a popular area restaurant for lunch.
Those wishing to visit all of Door County’s lighthouses need to plan to visit the second weekend in June when the Door County Maritime Museum holds their annual Lighthouse Walk which encompasses special tours and access to lighthouses not usually open to the public.
Lighthouse Lodgings
Lighthouse lovers looking for lodging should definitely make a reservation at the Door County Lighthouse Inn. Owners Claire and Frank Murphy are such fans, they themed their inn on lighthouses. Each room bears the name of a different Door County lighthouse. Lighthouse and nautical themed decor permeates, albeit in a tasteful way. Even the dishes you eat breakfast on feature lighthouses, and when I visited at Christmastime, the tree was completely decked out in lighthouse and natutical attire.
Those looking to explore Door County lighthouse history and lore will find no better authority than Claire Murphy, who penned a book on the subject, so if you have any questions, your innkeeper literally wrote the book on the subject.
Claire and Frank run a small, comfortable inn that makes a great home base for your Door County explorations. You'll come home to nice amenities like in-room fireplaces, DVD players, and whirlpool tubs, The pair are friendly, accommodating and helpful without being intrusive – the marks of perfect B&B hosts in my book.
Claire’s a terrific cook so breakfasts are always a hearty treat, and there are always fresh cookies set out for any time you get the munchies. And of course they run special packages for those wishing to explore the lighthouses of Door County. For instance, the inn's “Ultimate Lighthouse Adventure” includes 5 nights of lodging, visits to eight of Door County’s lighthouses, four boat trips, and a partridge in a pear tree (just kidding about that last part – wanted to see if you were reading).
Door County’s 10 Lighthouses:
Bailey’s Harbor Range Lights -- Built in 1869 and automated in 1972. Between 1869 and 1969, these lights were used to gain safe entry into Baileys Harbor. When the upper and lower lights were lined up with one light over the other, the sailor knew he/she was in safe water. Both buildings are open for inspection during the Lighthouse Walk in June. For more information about the Bailey's Harbor Range Lights, click here.
Cana Island Lighthouse (pictured tops of this post) -- Built in 1869 and automated in 1944, is still an active navigational aid. Thanks to painters and photographers, it also is Door County's most recognizable lighthouse and one of the peninsula's most identifiable landmarks. Located on a small island just off shore, the grounds can be reached by wading across a causeway. The keepers' house, along with the oil house, is open from mid-May through mid-October. For more information about the Cana Island Lighthouse click here.
Canal Lighthouse -- Sturgeon Bay. 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 opened to the public during the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Canal Lighthouse click here.
Chambers Island -- The island's lighthouse was built in 1858, automated in 1961. The lighthouse is open for self guided tours on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day when a caretaker is in residence. Public boat service is unavailable, however, so the only way to get to the island is by private vessel or by chartering a boat. The lighthouse is also reachable by special boat tours during the Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Chambers Island Lighthouse click here.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse --
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek. Built in 1868, automated in 1926. The Door County Historical Society has restored this structure and turned it into a living museum. Tours are operated daily through the summer and on weekends through the third weekend in October. A state park sticker is required. For more information about the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse click here.
Old Bailey’s Harbor (Bird Cage) Lighthouse -- Built in 1852 and closed in 1869 after the construction of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. Pilot Island Lighthouse -- http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/pilotisland/pilotisland.htm Built in 1858, automated in 1962. A narrated boat tour passes the lighthouse as part of the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Old Bailey's Harbor Lighthouse click here.
Plum Island Lighthouse -- Built in 1895, automated in 1969. A common sight for those taking the Washington Island Ferry or Island Clipper. A narrated boat tour passes the lighthouse as part of the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Plum Island Lighthouse click here.
Pottawatomie Lighthouse -- Rock Island. Built in 1836, automated in 1956. The grandfather of Door County lighthouses, it sits on what now is a state park. Rock Island and its lighthouse are reachable by ferry from Jackson Harbor on Washington Island. For more information about the Pottawatomie Lighthouse click here.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse -- Sturgeon Bay. Built in 1883, automated in 1983, Sherwood Lighthouse was the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The facility is used as a private retreat house for Coast Guard personnel. Grounds are opened to the public during the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Sherwood Point Lighthouse click here.
Click the links in the Related Travel section below for more details of fun things to do, see, and eat in Door County, Wisconsin.
You can get a free downloadable/printable PDF brochure about Door County’s lighthouses at www.doorcounty.com/docs/Door-County-Lighthouses.pdf.
Find the Door County Lighthouse Inn at 4639 Orchard Rd. in Egg Harbor, WI 54209, phone toll-free 866-868-9088 or click to www.dclighthouseinn.com.
Locate Door County Trolley Tour’s headquarters at 9197 Highway 42 in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, 54212. Phone 920-868-1100 or click to www.DoorCountyTrolley.com.
For trip planning, contact the Door County Visitor’s Bureau at 1015 Green Bay Rd. Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 call 800-52-RELAX or 920-743-4456 or click to www.DoorCounty.com.
On The Water On the Water Food and Lodging
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With 300 miles of shoreline, much of it rocky, the sailors of the 19th and early 20th centuries needed the lighthouses to safely navigate the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay that envelop the Door Peninsula its surrounding islands. It took ten lighthouses to do the job.
Easy Access Lighthouses, Tours, and Lighthouse WeekThe most accessible of the Door County Lighthouses are: Cana Island Lighthouse, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Canal Station Lighthouse, and Baileys Harbor Range Lights. These four lighthouses are accessible by vehicle and visitors are welcome. If you don’t feel like driving, hop aboard the Door County Trolley for one of its popular lighthouse tours that visits all four of these lighthouses and includes a knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide and a stop at a popular area restaurant for lunch.
Those wishing to visit all of Door County’s lighthouses need to plan to visit the second weekend in June when the Door County Maritime Museum holds their annual Lighthouse Walk which encompasses special tours and access to lighthouses not usually open to the public.
Lighthouse LodgingsLighthouse lovers looking for lodging should definitely make a reservation at the Door County Lighthouse Inn. Owners Claire and Frank Murphy are such fans, they themed their inn on lighthouses. Each room bears the name of a different Door County lighthouse. Lighthouse and nautical themed decor permeates, albeit in a tasteful way. Even the dishes you eat breakfast on feature lighthouses, and when I visited at Christmastime, the tree was completely decked out in lighthouse and natutical attire.
Those looking to explore Door County lighthouse history and lore will find no better authority than Claire Murphy, who penned a book on the subject, so if you have any questions, your innkeeper literally wrote the book on the subject.
Claire and Frank run a small, comfortable inn that makes a great home base for your Door County explorations. You'll come home to nice amenities like in-room fireplaces, DVD players, and whirlpool tubs, The pair are friendly, accommodating and helpful without being intrusive – the marks of perfect B&B hosts in my book. Claire’s a terrific cook so breakfasts are always a hearty treat, and there are always fresh cookies set out for any time you get the munchies. And of course they run special packages for those wishing to explore the lighthouses of Door County. For instance, the inn's “Ultimate Lighthouse Adventure” includes 5 nights of lodging, visits to eight of Door County’s lighthouses, four boat trips, and a partridge in a pear tree (just kidding about that last part – wanted to see if you were reading).
Door County’s 10 Lighthouses:
Bailey’s Harbor Range Lights -- Built in 1869 and automated in 1972. Between 1869 and 1969, these lights were used to gain safe entry into Baileys Harbor. When the upper and lower lights were lined up with one light over the other, the sailor knew he/she was in safe water. Both buildings are open for inspection during the Lighthouse Walk in June. For more information about the Bailey's Harbor Range Lights, click here.
Cana Island Lighthouse (pictured tops of this post) -- Built in 1869 and automated in 1944, is still an active navigational aid. Thanks to painters and photographers, it also is Door County's most recognizable lighthouse and one of the peninsula's most identifiable landmarks. Located on a small island just off shore, the grounds can be reached by wading across a causeway. The keepers' house, along with the oil house, is open from mid-May through mid-October. For more information about the Cana Island Lighthouse click here.
Canal Lighthouse -- Sturgeon Bay. 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 opened to the public during the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Canal Lighthouse click here.
Chambers Island -- The island's lighthouse was built in 1858, automated in 1961. The lighthouse is open for self guided tours on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day when a caretaker is in residence. Public boat service is unavailable, however, so the only way to get to the island is by private vessel or by chartering a boat. The lighthouse is also reachable by special boat tours during the Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Chambers Island Lighthouse click here.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse --
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek. Built in 1868, automated in 1926. The Door County Historical Society has restored this structure and turned it into a living museum. Tours are operated daily through the summer and on weekends through the third weekend in October. A state park sticker is required. For more information about the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse click here.Old Bailey’s Harbor (Bird Cage) Lighthouse -- Built in 1852 and closed in 1869 after the construction of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. Pilot Island Lighthouse -- http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/pilotisland/pilotisland.htm Built in 1858, automated in 1962. A narrated boat tour passes the lighthouse as part of the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Old Bailey's Harbor Lighthouse click here.
Plum Island Lighthouse -- Built in 1895, automated in 1969. A common sight for those taking the Washington Island Ferry or Island Clipper. A narrated boat tour passes the lighthouse as part of the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Plum Island Lighthouse click here.
Pottawatomie Lighthouse -- Rock Island. Built in 1836, automated in 1956. The grandfather of Door County lighthouses, it sits on what now is a state park. Rock Island and its lighthouse are reachable by ferry from Jackson Harbor on Washington Island. For more information about the Pottawatomie Lighthouse click here.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse -- Sturgeon Bay. Built in 1883, automated in 1983, Sherwood Lighthouse was the last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The facility is used as a private retreat house for Coast Guard personnel. Grounds are opened to the public during the Door County Maritime Museum Lighthouse Walk, held the second weekend in June. For more information about the Sherwood Point Lighthouse click here.
Click the links in the Related Travel section below for more details of fun things to do, see, and eat in Door County, Wisconsin.
Practicalities
You can get a free downloadable/printable PDF brochure about Door County’s lighthouses at www.doorcounty.com/docs/Door-County-Lighthouses.pdf.
Find the Door County Lighthouse Inn at 4639 Orchard Rd. in Egg Harbor, WI 54209, phone toll-free 866-868-9088 or click to www.dclighthouseinn.com.
Locate Door County Trolley Tour’s headquarters at 9197 Highway 42 in Fish Creek, Wisconsin, 54212. Phone 920-868-1100 or click to www.DoorCountyTrolley.com.
For trip planning, contact the Door County Visitor’s Bureau at 1015 Green Bay Rd. Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 call 800-52-RELAX or 920-743-4456 or click to www.DoorCounty.com.
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