Devils Island Light facts for kids
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 Devils Island Light
Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | Devils Island, Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates | 47°04′46.288″N 90°43′41.13″W / 47.07952444°N 90.7280917°W |
| Year first lit | 1901 |
| Automated | 1978 |
| Foundation | Concrete |
| Construction | Cast iron |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical Free Standing |
| Height | 71 feet (22 m) |
| Focal height | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Original lens | 3rd order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | Red, Flashing, 10 sec |
| ARLHS number | USA-228 |
| USCG number | 7-15565 |
The Devils Island Lighthouse is a tall tower with a bright light. It stands on Devils Island in Lake Superior. This island is one of the beautiful Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. The lighthouse helps boats find their way safely.
Today, the National Park Service owns this lighthouse. It is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The lighthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. It was added to the list in 1977.
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About the Lighthouse Light
The lighthouse uses a special type of lens called a Fresnel lens. This lens helps make the light very bright and focused. The original lens was made by Henry-Lepaute. The U.S. Coast Guard removed it in 1989. But a new Fresnel lens was put in place by the National Park Service in 1992.
The light used to be even brighter. In 1928, a diesel engine was installed. This made the white light shine with 300,000 candela. The red light shone with 180,000 candela. Candela is a way to measure how bright a light is.
Fog Signals and Other Buildings
Lighthouses often have fog signals to warn boats in foggy weather. The Devils Island Lighthouse once had a steam whistle. This whistle was removed in 1925. It was replaced with a better air-powered fog signal. This new signal was called a diaphone.
There were other buildings on the island too. An older wooden tower was built in 1891, but it is gone now. There are also historic brick buildings called "keepers' quarters." These were built in 1896 for the lighthouse keepers to live in.
Other buildings included two oil houses. These stored the oil for the light. There was also a tramway and an engine building. A tramway is like a small railway. It helped move supplies from the dock up to the lighthouse. A wooden boathouse and a radio beacon were also part of the station.
Visiting the Lighthouse
You can visit many of the Apostle Islands Lighthouses. During summer, you can take a water taxi or a private boat. There is also an Annual Apostle Island Lighthouse Celebration. During this time, ferry tours visit all the lighthouses. Volunteer park rangers are often on the islands. They are there to welcome visitors and share information.
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