The Kewaunee Pierhead lighthouse is a lighthouse located near Kewaunee in

Kewaunee County Kewaunee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,563. Its county seat is Kewaunee. The county was created in 1852 and organized in 1859. Its Menominee name is ''Kewāneh'', an arch ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

. The lighthouse looks nearly identical to the Holland Harbor Lighthouse, except that it is colored white.

History

The original light marking the entrance to Kewaunee was established in 1889 on the North pier. In 1912, the current South pier was built as an open frame tower, with a fog signal building built behind it. The tower was equipped with a fifth order

fresnel lens A Fresnel lens ( ; ; or ) is a type of composite compact lens developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) for use in lighthouses. It has been called "the invention that saved a million ships." The design allows the c ...

and the fog signal building supplied steam for a 10" fog whistle. In 1919, the steam whistle was replaced by a compressed air Type F

Diaphone The diaphone is a noisemaking device best known for its use as a foghorn: It can produce deep, powerful tones, able to carry a long distance. Although they have fallen out of favor, diaphones were also used at some fire stations and in other situ ...

fog horn A foghorn or fog signal is a device that uses sound to warn vehicles of navigational hazards such as rocky coastlines, or boats of the presence of other vessels, in foggy conditions. The term is most often used in relation to marine transport. Wh ...

. A 1972 recording of the fog horn was inducted into the

National Recording Registry The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservati ...

in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library ...

in 2005. In 1931, the open frame tower was removed and a tower was built out of the roof of the fog signal building, giving the lighthouse the appearance it has now. The old open frame tower was later reconstructed as the Chicago Harbor Southeast Guidewall Lighthouse, where it still stands today. The lighthouse was automated in 1981. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 2022.

Current Status

The City of Kewaunee was granted ownership of the lighthouse in September 2011, as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA). The Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and works to raise funds to restore the lighthouse. The fresnel lens remained until June 5, 2019, when it was replaced with a Vega Industries VLB-44 LED light. The US Coast Guard maintains the light and the electronic fog horn. The fresnel lens was moved and placed on display at the Kewaunee County History Center located at 217 Ellis St. The lighthouse is in the process of being restored and is occasionally open for tours.

Gallery

File:KewauneeWisconsinPierheadLighthouse2008.jpg File:Kewaunee Lighthouse LED Light.jpg, The new 5 tier LED (Vega VLB-44) light installed by the US Coast Guard on June 5, 2019 File:Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse Lens.jpg, The 5th order Fresnel Lens in Kewaunee's Pierhead lighthouse sees one of its last sunsets before being removed File:USCGkewauneeSep.JPG, The configuration of the lighthouse from 1912 - 1931, with an open frame tower and the fog signal building behind it. This photo was taken between 1919 and 1930 when the fog signal was a compressed air diaphone. File:USCGkewauneeIncorp.JPG, The lighthouse as seen after the tower was built into the roof of the fog signal building. This change occurred in 1931 and left the lighthouse looking as it does today. File:KewauneeLight.jpg File:Kewaunee Lighthouse flyover.webm

References

External links

Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead LighthouseAerial photographs of Kewaunee Pierhead Light at Marinas.com.Lighthouse Friends
* * * {{authority control Lighthouses completed in 1931 Buildings and structures in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin Lighthouses in Wisconsin Tourist attractions in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin 1931 establishments in Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin

History

Current Status

Gallery

References

Further reading

External links