Pilot Island Light facts for kids
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 Pilot Island Light
Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | Gills Rock, Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates | 45°17′3.067″N 86°55′11.012″W / 45.28418528°N 86.91972556°W |
| Year first constructed | 1858 |
| Year first lit | 1858 |
| Automated | 1962 |
| Foundation | Concrete |
| Construction | Milwaukee Cream City brick |
| Tower shape | Square |
| Markings / pattern | yellow, black lantern and parapet |
| Height | 41 feet (12 m) |
| Focal height | 48 feet (15 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) |
| Characteristic | White, Flashing (2), 6 sec |
| ARLHS number | USA-600 |
| USCG number | 7-21325 |
The Pilot Island Light is a historic lighthouse found near Gills Rock, in Wisconsin. It stands on Pilot Island at the eastern end of a tricky waterway called Death's Door passage. This area is part of Door County.
The lighthouse building looks a lot like the Pottawatomie Light. However, Pilot Island Light is made of brick, while Pottawatomie Light is made of stone. Until 1910, this lighthouse was known as the Port des Morts Island Light. The original building used for the fog signal was later changed into a home for a second assistant lighthouse keeper in 1900.
A Look Back in Time
The waters around Pilot Island were often covered in thick fog. This made the passage very dangerous for ships. Living and working at the lighthouse was considered very difficult because it was so lonely and isolated.
Fog Signals and Sounds
To help ships navigate through the fog, a fog bell was put in place in 1862. This bell was replaced by a foghorn in 1864. Later, in 1875, it was upgraded to a steam-powered fog siren.
In 1880, a separate building was built to hold a backup fog siren. By 1900, a new building and a large 10-inch (250 mm) steam whistle were added. This new building still stands near the water today.
However, by 1904, people realized that the whistles were not working very well. They were then replaced by two diaphones. These new horns made such loud noises that living on the island became even harder. The sounds were so strong they could even damage fertilized bird eggs.
Protecting the Island
Pilot Island and nearby Plum Island are two of four places in Wisconsin that the U.S. Coast Guard has given to the United States Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau of Land Management is now looking for new owners who will agree to take care of these historic properties. Both the Coast Guard and the Bureau of Land Management require that the new caretakers maintain the buildings.
Pilot Island Light is one of ten lighthouses located in Door County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Today, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service owns the lighthouse. The grounds, the old living quarters, and the tower itself are currently closed to visitors. The island is described as "abandoned, overgrown, and overrun" by a large group of cormorant birds.
Images for kids
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USCG archive photo
