Cana Island Light

Cana Island Light, just off the Lake Michigan shore near Baileys Harbor, was built in 1869 and first lit in 1870 to replace an earlier lighthouse and guide shipping through dangerous waters. Its 89-foot tower, heavy brick construction, steel cladding added in 1902, and third-order Fresnel lens reflect both durability and changing lighthouse technology, from lard fuel to electricity. Keepers and their families sustained the station through constant manual labor, while nearby shipwrecks underscored its importance as a reliable beacon. Still active under Coast Guard care, the site later opened to visitors and became one of Wisconsin’s best-known historic lights.

Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin · United States