Kenosha North Pier Light

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Kenosha North Pier Light
Kenosha North Pier Lighthouse.jpg
Kenosha North Pier Light
Location Kenosha, Wisconsin
Coordinates 42°35′19.7″N87°48′30.83″W / 42.588806°N 87.8085639°W / 42.588806; -87.8085639 [1]
Tower
Constructed1906
FoundationConcrete pier
Construction Cast iron
Height50 feet (15 m)
Shape Frustum of a cone
MarkingsRed, black lantern and parapet
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Light
First lit1906
Focal height50 feet (15 m)
LensFourth-order Fresnel lens (original), 9.8-inch (250 mm) Tideland Signal acrylic optic Fresnel lens [2] (current)
Range11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi)
Characteristic Red, Isophase, 6 sec [1]
Kenosha North Pierhead Light
Arealess than one acre
Built byOffice of the Lighthouse; Superintendent, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
MPS Light Stations of the United States MPS
NRHP reference No. 08000545 [3]
Added to NRHPJune 24, 2008

The Kenosha North Pier Light, also known as the Kenosha North Pierhead Light, is a lighthouse located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. "A typical 'Lake Michigan red tower'", [4] it is a sibling to the Milwaukee Pierhead Light. [5] This light was built in 1906 as a replacement of the old Kenosha Light Station. [4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. [6]

Contents

History

The station was established in 1856. [5] This pierhead light is one of a succession of lighthouses in this location, which were needed as the structures were destroyed by natural processes, or became obsolete as the piers were greatly extended. [2]

The current lighthouse was built in 1906. It stands 50 feet tall, with a gently tapered shape, topped with a cylindrical lantern. The walls of the tower are cast iron plates. Inside the tower, the first story is 12 feet six inches in diameter. From the first story, a curving cast iron stairway ascends to the second story. The third story contains meteorological equipment which is connected to the lantern above. A steel ladder leads to a trapdoor in the ceiling. The fourth story is the lantern room, which contains a modern acrylic beacon. [7] [8]

It currently is painted red, but the lighthouse also has been painted white in the past. [2] The adjacent south pier and breakwater also had lighthouses, but now have cylindrical navigational lights. These included fog signal buildings and elevated iron catwalks, all of which have been removed. [2]

In June 2008, the Kenosha Pierhead Lighthouse was deemed "excess" by the Coast Guard. Pursuant to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, it was offered at no cost to eligible entities, including federal, state and local agencies, non-profit corporations, educational agencies, or community development organizations. However, none of these entities offered to take responsibility for the lighthouse. [9]

In 2011, the excess property was put up for auction. It was purchased by Heather McGee and John Burhani, who subsequently created "Kenosha Lighthouse Studio". [10] Murals have since been painted on the lighthouse [11] and security cameras and lights were installed in 2016 to dissuade vandalism. [12]

Directions

In Kenosha, cross the bridge to the island on 50th Street and follow the road down to the beach at Simmons Island. From the beach, one can walk on the pier. The light is accessible for exterior inspection, but not open to the public. [4]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Light List, Volume VII, Great Lakes (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Kenosha Pierhead & Breakwater Lights.
  3. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Wobser, David, Kenosha North Pier Head Light Archived 2008-09-07 at the Wayback Machine , Boatnerd
  5. 1 2 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Eastern Wisconsin". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  6. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Kenosha North Pierhead Light". National Park Service . Retrieved January 24, 2021. With accompanying pictures
  7. ↑ Daniel Koski-Karell; Jayne Aaron; Daniel Hart (2008-02-20). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Kenosha North Pierhead Light". National Park Service . Retrieved 2018-06-07. With 7 photos.
  8. ↑ "Kenosha North Pierhead Light". Wisconsin Historic Society. January 2012. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
  9. ↑ Lighthouse friends article.
  10. ↑ "Home". Kenosha Lighthouse Studio. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  11. ↑ "Murals". Kenosha Lighthouse Studio. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  12. ↑ "Lighthouse Info". Kenosha Lighthouse Studio. Retrieved 2023-06-28.

Further reading

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Kenosha North Pier Light at Wikimedia Commons

USCG archive photo showing fog signal building USCGkenoshapierheadsouthport.JPG
USCG archive photo showing fog signal building
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