Milwaukee Breakwater Light facts for kids
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| Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse | |
 Milwaukee Breakwater Light
Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates | 43°01′37.24″N 87°52′55.14″W / 43.0270111°N 87.8819833°W |
| Year first constructed | 1926 |
| Year first lit | 1926 |
| Automated | 1966 |
| Foundation | Concrete |
| Construction | 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) steel plate, steel frame, cast iron lantern |
| Tower shape | Square on square house, topped by round lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white with black lantern & parapet |
| Height | 53 feet (16 m) |
| Focal height | 67 feet (20 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel |
| Range | 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl R 10 seconds
Structure is floodlighted from sunset to sunrise. Submarine cable runs to Milwaukee Pierhead Light. Illuminated sign on channelward side of light structure worded CABLE CROSSING NO ANCHORING. |
| Fog signal | HORN: 2 blasts ev 20s (2s bl- 2s si-2s bl-14s si). Operates from Apr. 1 to Nov. |
| ARLHS number | USA-497 |
| USCG number | 7-20635 |
The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse was built in 1926. It stands in the harbor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its job is to guide ships safely into the harbor. This lighthouse is special because it's one of the last fully enclosed breakwater lighthouses on the Great Lakes. In 2011, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building.
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History of the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse
This lighthouse is still used today to help ships navigate. The United States Coast Guard owns and operates it. The lighthouse tower is made of steel and has a square Balcony. At the top, there's a round cast iron room where the light shines from. This room is called the lantern room.
The lighthouse also has a two-story building where the lighthouse keepers used to live. This building has a cool, modern look called Art Deco style. The whole structure sits on a large concrete base. This base is about 60 feet by 54 feet and rises over 20 feet above Lake Michigan. The light itself is 67 feet above the lake. The lantern room and the railing around it are painted black.
Building a Strong Lighthouse
The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse is located in the middle of a four-mile-long wall, called a breakwater. This wall protects the harbor from big waves. The lighthouse is built to be very strong. It can handle rough weather and huge waves when Lake Michigan gets stormy.
The building is made from thick steel plates, about a quarter-inch thick. These plates cover a strong steel frame. Even the windows and portholes are super tough. Their glass is a full half-inch thick! The lighthouse was first painted red, but later it was changed to white.
The Lighthouse Lens
In 1926, a special light lens was moved to this lighthouse. It was a "fourth order Fresnel lens". This type of lens is very good at making a bright, focused beam of light. It was originally used in the nearby Milwaukee Pierhead Light. The lantern room itself might have also come from that lighthouse.
The original lens was taken out in 1994. Now, you can see it on display at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Lighthouse Keepers and Future Plans
In the past, people called lighthouse keepers lived and worked at the lighthouse. Their job was to make sure the light was always working. They also took care of other lights in the harbor. Getting to and from this lighthouse by boat was often very difficult and risky.
In 2011, the United States Coast Guard decided they no longer needed the lighthouse. They offered to give it to groups that would take care of it. If no groups were found, they would sell it. In 2013, a group called Optima Enrichment took over the lighthouse. They are now working to raise money so that people can visit the lighthouse in the future.
How to See the Lighthouse
The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse is located at the end of the north breakwater, on the harbor's north side. You can't walk to it from the shore because it's disconnected. To get close, you need to use a boat.
The best place to see the lighthouse from land is from the parking lot at the end of East Erie Street. This spot is right next to the Milwaukee Pierhead Light. If you want to take good pictures, you'll need a telephoto or zoom lens for your camera. The lighthouse tower and the area around it are currently closed to the public.
