CHAMBERS ISLAND

Type:
Year Established:
1868
Existing:
Yes
Chambers Island WI
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2004
Photo Credit:
Mike and Carol McKinney
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
MIDDLE OF GREEN BAY/LAKE MICHIGAN
Latitude:
45° 12.1'
Longitude:
87° 21.9'
City / Town:
GIBRALTAR
U.S. State:
Wisconsin
Location County:
DOOR
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. CHAMBERS ISLAND
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1961
Year Tower Established:
1868
Tower Construction Material:
BRICK
Tower Foundation:
CONCRETE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
68
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
67
Tower Shape:
OCTAGONAL W/OUT LANTERN
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1868
Keeper's Quarters Style:
FRONT GABLE (ATTACHED)
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
BRICK

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
30 FT TOWER ERECTED ATOP TOWER
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:

  • 1866: Congress approved funds for a light on Chambers Island.
  • 1867: The government purchased 40 acres of land and a lighthouse with keeper’s quarters was built.
  • 1868: The light was first lit.
  • 1899: A new rotating fourth order Fresnel lens was installed. Prior to that it had been a fourth order Fresnel with a fixed-flashing signal.
  • 1910: Electric light bulbs powered by a generator were installed.
  • 1926: This was switched to an acetylene system. Later still solar power was used to power the light.
  • 1951: A skeletal tower was erected and the lantern and lens were removed.
  • 1961: The light was moved to a taller skeletal tower increasing its range to 12 miles. The location of the lens is unknown.
  • 1960s: The station had been heavily vandalized in the 1960s after it was abandoned. Local interest was raised and the site was restored.
  • 1976: The station was transferred to the town of Gibralter.
  • 1977: The site became a park.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017