Port Washington Light facts for kids
| 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 |
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| Deactivated | 1903 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction |
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| Tower shape |
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The Port Washington Light is an old lighthouse in Port Washington, Wisconsin. It helped guide ships into the harbor for many years. Later, a newer lighthouse took its place. This old lighthouse was then turned into a regular house. Today, it has been fixed up and looks like it used to. It is now a museum where people can learn about lighthouses. The country of Luxembourg even helped with its restoration!
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
Building the First Lighthouse
People first asked the U.S. Congress for a lighthouse in 1845. In 1848, they set aside $3,500 to build it. The first lighthouse was finished in 1849. It had a tower and a separate house for the lighthouse keeper. Both buildings were made from a special kind of brick called Cream City brick.
The tower was about 35 feet (10.7 meters) tall. It used five special lamps with reflectors to shine its light. The light turned on for the first time on May 8, 1849. In 1856, a new type of lens, called a sixth-order Fresnel lens, was put in. This lamp was 36 feet (11 meters) above the ground and 109 feet (33.2 meters) above the water.
The Second Lighthouse Building
Starting in 1859, the lighthouse was "rebuilt." This actually meant a mostly new brick building was constructed. They reused some parts and materials from the older house. The new building had two stories and a tower on its roof. This design was also used for other lighthouses nearby, like the Pilot Island Light.
A sixth-order lens was supposed to be installed, probably the one from the first light. However, a fourth-order lens was put in during 1870. This lens was 113 feet (34.4 meters) above the water. It made the light visible from about 18 miles (29 kilometers) away.
Lighthouse Keepers
The 1859 building was home to one lighthouse keeper and their family. The first floor had an office, and the second floor had a watch room. 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., took care of Port Washington's lighthouses for many years.
When the Light Was Replaced
In the late 1800s, the harbor was made bigger and deeper. Because of this, a new lighthouse, the Port Washington Breakwater Light, was lit 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 when the new pierhead light became electric. He continued to live in the old lighthouse house.
In 1934, a new steel tower was put on the breakwater. This light needed people to operate its foghorns. The old lighthouse house 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 house still housed other Coast Guard workers. This continued until 1993. Then, the building was given to the Port Washington Historical Society. They first leased it, and then in 1997, they owned it completely.
Restoring the Lighthouse
Many people from Luxembourg had moved to the Port Washington area. In 2000, the Minister of Sites and Monuments from Luxembourg visited the area. After seeing the old lighthouse, he offered to help. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg would provide a new tower and lantern. This was a way to restore the lighthouse to its original look. It was also a memorial to U.S. service members who fought in Luxembourg during World War II.
The historical society successfully raised the money needed to finish the restoration. 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 new Fresnel lens was installed in 2007. Today, the restored lighthouse has a museum inside. It teaches visitors about what life was like for lighthouse keepers.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
