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Historical Information

The Door Peninsula is a long, thin finger of land which juts north into Lake Michigan. French voyageurs experiencing violent seas in the passage between the peninsula and Washington Island named the passage Porte des Mort" which translates as "Door of the Dead." When deciding on a name for a new county to include the entire peninsula in 1851, the Wisconsin Legislature decided to drop the latter part of the name, and settled on Door County.

In the fall of 1848, Captain Justice Bailey encountered a fierce October storm while traversing the Eastern Shore of the peninsula, and carrying a full complement of passengers, decided to seek shelter from the worsening storm. Pulling into a sheltered bay, and dropping anchor to ride out the storm, the Captain took the opportunity to explore some of the shore. Finding limestone, pine, maple and beech trees, Bailey reported his discovery to Mr. Alison Sweet, the owner of the shipping company for whom Bailey was employed.

In 1849, Sweet sent a crew to the Harbor to construct a pier, sawmill, quarry and a number of houses for his workers. That winter 2,500 cords of lumber were shipped from the harbor. Sweet managed to convince the State Legislature that Bailey's Harbor was destined to grow, and the village was named as the County Seat.

Sweet then petitioned the Federal Government for the construction of a lighthouse to assist vessels making their way into the harbor. Congress responded favorably, and awarded Sweet the construction contract. Selecting a one thousand foot by two hundred and fifty foot island as the best location for the tower, Sweet's crew began construction in 1852. With lake levels extremely low that year, they were able to transport all the building materials directly to the island.

Built of native stone from Sweet's quarry, the fifty-two foot tower was capped with a birdcage-style lantern room, and equipped with a fixed white Sixth Order Fresnel lens. As was usual in lantern rooms of this style, the lens was supported in the center of the tower with no platform or catwalk surrounding the lantern room. The lens was later upgraded to a fixed white Fifth Order Fresnel in 1858.

As a result of significant deterioration, in 1866 the Lighthouse Board recommended that the light be rebuilt, and $15,000 was appropriated for the project. However, at the last minute, it was determined that the harbor would be better served through the construction of range lights on the west shore, and the coastline would be better served through the construction of a light on Cana Island. Thus the decision was made to abandon the light as soon as the range lights were constructed.

At the close of the shipping season on December 1, 1869 the light was displayed for the last time, and the station closed. At some time thereafter, the island was transferred into private ownership.

Keepers of this Light

Click Here to see a complete listing of all Baileys Harbor Light keepers compiled by Phyllis L. Tag of Great Lakes Lighthouse Research.

Finding this Light

At the North end of Baileys' Harbor, turn at the Sandpiper Restaurant on the corner of Hwy 57. Follow Ridges Road past the yacht club, to the pint where the road takes a sharp left turn. Right at the turn you will see the lake ahead at the end of a gravel road. Drive down this gravel road approximately 300 feet, and you will see the lighthouse on the island to your right.

Reference Sources

Inventory of Historic Light Stations, National Parks Service, 1994 .
Wisconsin Handbook, 1997, Thomas Huhti.
Lighthouse Board annual reports, 1851 - 1870.
Great Lakes Light List, 1861.
Numerous emails with Tom Williams, ex-President of Jacksonport Historical Society.
Old photograph of station courtesy of Annie Peil of Orphan Annie's Schoolhouse Inn.
Photographs from author's personal collection.
Personal observation at Bailey's Harbor, 09/11/2000.
Keeper listings for this light appear courtesy of Great Lakes Lighthouse Research

This page last modified 01/29/2007