PORT WASHINGTON (OLD)

Type:
Year Established:
1850
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1901
Port Washington Old WI
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2016
Photo Credit:
Thomas Tag
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
PORT WASHINGTON HARBOR
Latitude:
43° 23'29"
Longitude:
87° 52"06"
City / Town:
PORT WASHINGTON
U.S. State:
Wisconsin
Location County:
OZAUKEE
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. PORT WASHINGTON (OLD)
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1903
Year Tower Established:
1860
Tower Construction Material:
BRICK
Tower Foundation:
STONE
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
113 FT ABOVE WATER
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
40 FT
Tower Shape:
HOUSE WITH REPLICA LANTERN
Fog Signal Building?:
Yes
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1934
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1860
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
BRICK

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
NONE
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No
Comments:

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:

  • 1848: The first light built at Port Washington was a free standing conical tower.
  • 1860:  It was felt a larger structure was needed so a new light was authorized with the lantern placed on top of the keeper’s house.
  • 1903: With the placement of the new pier light, this harbor light was discontinued.
  • 1934: The lantern and lens were removed from the building and it was altered to provide housing.
  • 1992: The building stopped being used to house Coast Guard personnel and was leased to Port Washington Historical Society.
  • 1998: Ownership was permanently transferred to the City of Port Washington with oversight of the National Park Service.
  • 1999: The light was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2000: The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg offered to build a replacement tower as a memorial to U.S. Servicemen who fought for the Grand Duchy in WWII. He had been on a visit in the area because of the large number of immigrants from Luxemburg that had settled in that area. The historical society raised money to prepare the building for the new tower.
  • 2001: The new tower was restored by Luxemburg craftsman as a gift from the Grand Duchy.
  • 2002: The new lantern was dedicated.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017