Baileys Harbor Lights

Mom and Dad stopped by on their way out west to the Grand Canyon, so we had our first visitors this week!  We went back up to Door County on Labor Day to show them the area and check out some new points of interest.

The day started off pretty rainy, but cleared up nicely.  We revisited some of the same bayside shore towns that Scott and I explored a few weeks ago (Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Sister Bay), but then decided to head east and check out Baileys Harbor on the lakeside for some new territory.  In 1848, Captain Justice Bailey sought shelter in the harbor during a severe Lake Michigan storm.  Word of Baileys Harbor spread, and it became the first Anglo settlement in and county seat of Door County.  Not long after, several lighthouses were built in the area, one of which (Cana Island) is still in operation today.


Cana Island Lighthouse

As we arrived lakeside, we followed signs down narrow back roads to the Cana Island Lighthouse which was identified on the map as a county park.  Once we arrived, we were treated to fantastic views of Lake Michigan and walked across the causeway to Cana Island.  Cana Island Lighthouse was built in 1860 and has been in operation ever since.  Back in the day, the keeper would burn animal fat to keep the light going.  Now, a small halogen bulb about the size of your pinky (with a backup bulb system) provides more than adequate light through the original glass prism.  We toured the keeper's house to view exhibits about the lighthouse and then climbed the 97 stairs to the top of the tower for an awesome view.  This was the first time I saw decent waves on the lake- there were even quite a few surfers enjoying the nice afternoon and the favorable shoreline configuration creating surfable waves.

 

97 Steps!

View from the top of Cana Island Lighthouse tower

Baileys Harbor Range Lights

We drove right past this one without realizing it, but after a scenic drive, found it again later.  It had already closed for the day, but we were able to walk around for a few minutes and snap a couple of photos.  The unique tidbit about this light is that it requires 2 different lighthouses to function- the front range light (first photo below), located close to shore, and the rear range light, featuring a fixed white light 15 feet higher at the keeper's house 950 feet inland.  Mariners would line up these two lights upon approach to the harbor to safely navigate the shoals and to avoid missing the only harbor refuge on Lake Michigan north of Milwaukee.  In 1969, the lights were decommissioned and a reflective metal tower with a single directional light now does the job of the two range lights.

 

BH Lower Range Light

 

 

BH Upper Range Light and Keepers House