Cana Island Lighthouse - Part 1

It's been a few years since we've visited so last weekend my oldest pal World Explorer and his daughter (my Godchild) and The Frau trekked up the peninsula to check out one of Door County's more popular lighthouses.

The last time I visited nobody was allowed to climb the tower to the top.  That's changed recently and it's pretty cool to make the climb.

The Cana Island lighthouse was constructed in 1869 and first lit on 1870.  Both the tower, the keeper quarters and the privy were constructed of Milwaukee cream city brick.

Almost immediately the brick tower began to deteriorate at the hands of harsh coastal weather and in 1902 the tower was clad in steel plating to protect if from further deterioration.

View from beneath the lens

There is a third order Fresnel lens at the top of the tower that was manufactured in France.  (Yes, there was outsourcing in the 1800's.)  The light was originally fueled by lard oil, then kerosene, followed by acetylene and finally electricity in 1945 when it became automated.

View of the lens from above

The lighthouse has been serviced by eight keepers over the years with Rosie and Louie Janda departing in 1995.

It remains an operating lighthouse to this day.