Port Washington Lighthouse

106 Lake Street, Port Washington, WI 53074​

Port Washington’s first lighthouse was built on the city’s north bluff, overlooking the harbor, in 1849. This tower, detached from the keeper’s dwelling, was replaced in 1860 by a square, wooden tower mounted atop a new two-story brick residence for the keeper.
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Map

Keepers:

Arthur S. Almquist (1935 – 1942)

Location

Take Highway 54 from Green Bay to Algoma.  Look for the lighthouse atat the shoreline.  The lighthouse marks the entrance to the Ahnapee River, guiding vessels into the harbor of Algoma, which was previously known as Ahnapee before changing its name in 1879.
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​​Google Maps HERE

History

Key Historical Highlights:​

A project to improve the harbor at Port Washington was adopted in 1869 and modified two times during the following decade. After much dredging, this work created two interior basins with a combined area of 5 ¾ acres that were connected to Lake Michigan through a channel protected by two piers. When completed in 1888, the north pier was 920 feet long, while the south pier was 1,220 feet long.

In 1902, the gas machine was removed from the tower and taken to the storehouse in Milwaukee. In place of the gas machine, fifth-order lamps were used in the lens.

The first lighthouse in Port Washington was constructed in 1849 on the hill where St. Mary’s Church now stands.

A second lighthouse replaced the 1849 structure in 1860.  This lighthouse was built closer to the harbor and featured a light housed in a wooden tower atop a keeper’s house.

​The pierhead light became the main light at Port Washington, when the 1860 Port Washington Lighthouse was discontinued in 1903. A schooner collided with the pierhead lighthouse in 1907, destroying the gallery railing. On March 7, 1921, the City of Port Washington established a fog signal on the balcony of the lighthouse at the end of the north pier. This air siren sounded a seven-second blast every thirty seconds and was maintained by the city. The pierhead light was electrified and automated in 1924.

In 1935, a more modern, Art Deco-style lighthouse was built at the entrance to Port Washington's harbor, replacing the earlier structures.

Photography

EASY Access .  You can step out of your car and walk on the sidewalk to get a great view of the pierhead light.