Port Washington Light facts for kids
The Port Washington Light is an old lighthouse in Port Washington, Wisconsin. It helped guide ships safely into the harbor for many years. Later, a newer lighthouse took its place. With help from Luxembourg, this old lighthouse was fixed up and is now a museum you can visit.
| Location | Overlooking Port Washington harbor |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°23′28″N 87°52′04″W / 43.391°N 87.8677°W |
| Year first constructed | 1849 |
| Year first lit |
|
| Deactivated | 1903 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction |
|
| Tower shape |
|
Contents
History of the Port Washington Light
People first asked the U.S. Congress for a lighthouse in Port Washington in 1845. By 1848, money was set aside to build it. The first lighthouse was finished in 1849. It had a tower and a separate house for the keeper. Both were made from a special kind of brick called Cream City brick.
The tower was over 35 feet (10.7 meters) tall. It used five special lamps with reflectors to shine light. The light turned on for the first time on May 8, 1849. In 1856, a new type of lens, called a Fresnel lens, was put in. This lens made the light much brighter and stronger. The light was 36 feet (11 meters) from the ground and 109 feet (33 meters) above the water.
A New Lighthouse Building
In 1859, the lighthouse was "rebuilt." This really meant a mostly new brick building was constructed. Some parts and materials from the old building were reused. The new building had two stories and a tower on its roof. This design was also used for other lighthouses nearby.
A new lens was installed in 1870. This lens was 113 feet (34.4 meters) above the water. It could shine its light up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) away!
Lighthouse Keepers
The 1859 building was home to the lighthouse keeper and their family. The keeper had an office on the first floor and a watch room on the second. Charles Lewis Sr. was the keeper from 1874 until he passed away in 1880. His wife took over for a short time. Then, their son, Charles Lewis Jr., became the keeper. He took care of Port Washington's lights for many years.
The Light Changes
In the late 1800s, the harbor was made bigger. A new lighthouse, called the Port Washington Breakwater Light, started shining in 1889. This new tower did not need a keeper living there. The keepers from the old lighthouse took care of it.
By 1903, it was clear that only one lighthouse was needed. So, the old Port Washington Light was turned off. Keeper Charles Lewis Jr. retired in 1924. He still lived in the old lighthouse house, even though the pierhead light became electric.
In 1934, a new steel tower was put on the breakwater. This light needed people to operate its foghorns. The old lighthouse building was changed to house these new keepers. The tower and its inside supports were removed.
When the breakwater light became fully automated in 1975–76, the old lighthouse building still housed Coast Guard workers. In 1993, the building was given to the Port Washington Historical Society. They first leased it, then fully owned it in 1997.
Restoring the Lighthouse
Many people from Luxembourg had moved to the Port Washington area. In 2000, a special visitor from Luxembourg came to see the old lighthouse. He offered to help fix it up. Luxembourg would provide a new tower and lantern. This was a way to remember American soldiers who fought in Luxembourg during World War II.
The historical society worked hard to raise the money needed for the rest of the repairs. In March 2002, the new tower arrived from Luxembourg and was put in place. The restored lighthouse was officially opened on June 16, 2002. A brand new Fresnel lens was installed in 2007.
Today, the restored lighthouse is a museum. You can learn all about what life was like for lighthouse keepers. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
