Pottawatomie Light facts for kids
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| Potawatomi Lighthouse 2004 | |
| Location | Rock Island, Door County, Wisconsin |
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| Coordinates | 45°25′39″N 86°49′41″W / 45.42750°N 86.82806°W |
| Year first lit | 1836 |
| Automated | 1966 |
| Deactivated | 1988 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Limestone |
| Tower shape | Square, integral with keeper house |
| Markings / pattern | natural with black lantern |
| Height | 41 feet (12 m) |
| Focal height | 159 feet (48 m) |
| Original lens | Fresnel lens |
| Range | 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 4s 159 Light is obscured from 275° to 020° by dense foliage |
The Pottawatomie Lighthouse, also known as the Rock Island Light, is a very old lighthouse located in Rock Island State Park, Wisconsin. It sits on Rock Island in Door County, Wisconsin. This lighthouse first shone its light in 1836, making it the oldest lighthouse in Wisconsin and on Lake Michigan. For many years, people called "light keepers" lived and worked there, making sure the light guided ships safely. They worked there from 1836 until 1946, when the lighthouse became automated, meaning machines took over the job.
Contents
Lighthouse History
Building the First Lighthouse
The very first lighthouse on this spot was built in 1836. It had a house that was one and a half stories tall. There was also a separate tower that stood about 30 feet (9 meters) high.
A New Lighthouse is Built
Sadly, the first lighthouse was not built very well. Because of this, it was replaced by the lighthouse you see today in 1858. The old tower and house were taken down after the new one was ready. The current lighthouse first lit up in 1858. It helped guide ships until 1988. At that time, a new, modern tower with an automated system took its place.
Oldest in Door County
The Pottawatomie Lighthouse is the oldest light station in Door County. Door County is special because it has more lighthouses than any other county in Wisconsin.
Restoring the Lighthouse
The lighthouse was later brought back to life by a group called the "Friends of Rock Island Lighthouse." They worked hard to make it look like it did between 1909 and 1913. This group is a non-profit organization called "Friends Of Rock Island State Park."
Visiting the Museum
Today, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse is a museum. It is called the Pottawatomie Lighthouse Museum. You can visit it for tours during the summer months. It is open daily from Memorial Day (late May) until Columbus Day (early October), from 10 AM to 4 PM.
National Recognition
In 1979, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Its special reference number is 79000074.
The Fresnel Lens
The original Fresnel lens was a special type of lens that made the light very bright. It was lost after the lighthouse stopped working in the late 1980s. In 1999, a copy made of plexiglass was put in its place.
Oldest Structure
There is also an old outdoor toilet, called a privy, on the lighthouse grounds. This privy was built in 1836. It is the oldest building still standing in all of Door County!
Images for kids
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The interior has been historically restored.
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USCG archive photo
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In 1883
