Great Lakes Boating

JULY 2022 | GREAT LAKES BOATING 55 www.GreatLakesBoating.com Lighthouses Of The Great Lakes By Roy Sparks T he Eagle Bluff Light, also known as Eagle Bluff lighthouse, or simply Eagle Bluff, is a light- house located near Ephraim in Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wis. Perched on a bluff 76 feet above Green Bay's glistening waters, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse's lamp brought solace to many a sailor suffering through a storm's gale or the dark of night. Con- struction was authorized in 1866, but the lighthouse was not actually built until 1868 at a cost of $12,000 and was then automated in 1926. Restoration work began on the Eagle Bluff Light in 1960 and was completed in 1963; upon com- pletion the lighthouse was opened for tours. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Today the tradition of the lighthouse continues. Restored to its past glory by the Door County Historical Society, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is a tribute to the keepers who kept the lamp burning on many a dark and stormy night. Guiding guests through the lighthouse and its grounds, knowledge- able tour guides share the personal stories of the keepers who manned the light from 1868 – 1926. Decorated with some of the keepers' original furnishings, as well as authentic period antiques, the Eagle Bluff Light- house tells the story of not only the men who toiled through the night, but also their wives and children. Eagle Bluff's mission is to illuminate the islands located in the middle of the Strawberry Channel. This mission is what gives Eagle Bluff its nickname, "The Guardian of the Strawberry Channel." Much of Door County is located on the Niagara Escarp- ment. The escarpment makes it very hard to dig into the soil. For this reason it is very unusual to have a basement in Door County. Eagle Bluff has two basements, one under the tower and one under the keeper's residence. The Door County Historical Society, also known as DCHS, has maintained the Eagle Bluff Light from 1960 to the present day. DCHS was responsible for the restoration of Eagle Bluff. These restorations were led by a woman known as Ida Bay. Currently DCHS is raising money to reconstruct the barn and the summer kitchen that were originally locat- ed on the property. To this day DCHS runs tours through the keeper's residence and the tower of Eagle Bluff. • EAGLE BLUFF LIGHTHOUSE EAGLE BLUFF LIGHTHOUSE Lake Michigan, Wisconsin Lake Michigan, Wisconsin

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