Baileys Harbor Range Rear

Type:
Year Established:
1853
Existing:
Yes
Baileys Harbor Range Rear
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2017
Photo Credit:
Thomas Tag
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
DOOR PENINSULA/LAKE MICHIGAN
Latitude:
45° 04.13'
Longitude:
87° 07.11'
City / Town:
BAILEYS HARBOR
U.S. State:
Wisconsin
Location County:
DOOR
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Owner / Manager:
THE RIDGES SANCTUARY
Open to Public:
Yes

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1960S
Year Tower Established:
1869
Tower Construction Material:
WOOD
Tower Foundation:
FIELDSTONE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
22
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
21
Tower Shape:
WHITE W/BLACK TRIM
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1869
Keeper's Quarters Style:
GABLE (HOLDS REAR LIGHT)
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
CLAPBOARD
Other Structures:
BRICK OIL HOUSE (CIRCA 1900), STORAGE BUILDING, CLAPBOARD PRIVY (CIRCA 1920)

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
REMOVED
Original Optic Type:
FIFTH ORDER (FRONT RANGE)
Year Original Lens Installed:
1897
Private Aid:
No
Year Automated:
1930
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:

  • 1868: Congress appropriated funds to build range lights to help ships enter Baileys Harbor.
  • 1870: The lights were first lit.
  • 1923: The fuel was switched to acetylene gas. Previously kerosene had been used and prior to that lard or whale oil.
  • 1930: The light was electrified and automated.
  • 1934: The land and buildings were transferred to the Door County Parks Commission.
  • 1969: One of the lights was discontinued and a single light was used. The Fresnel lens was removed.
  • 1980’s: The Door County Historical Society raised money to restore the range lights and restore a boardwalk that ran between the two lights.
  • 1995: Mariners complained about the inadequacy of the single light and the range lights were re-lit in 1995.
  • 1998: The ownership of the range lights was transferred to the Door County Parks Commission.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017