Pilot Island

{{for|the island in Vanuatu that is also called Pilot Island|Lataro}}

{{Infobox islands

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|pushpin_map = Wisconsin#USA

| name = Pilot Island

| image_name = Pilot_Island_from_air_2019.jpg

| image_caption = Taken July 21, 2019

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| location =Door County, Wisconsin

| waterbody =Lake Michigan

| coordinates = {{coord|45|17|06|N|086|55|11|W|display=inline,title}}

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| elevation_ft = 581

| country = United States

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Pilot Island is an island in Lake Michigan in the Town of Washington, in Door County, Wisconsin; it is part of Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge. An abandoned lighthouse, the Pilot Island Light, rests on the island,[https://web.archive.org/web/20100909065759/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/pilotisland/pilotisland.htm Seeing The Light – Pilot Island Lighthouse], (Archived September 9, 2010){{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180103011734/http://www.jacksjoint.com/pilot.htm Life on Pilot Island in 1955]}}, (Archived January 3, 2018) and three shipwrecks rest in the Pilot Island NW Site. Pilot Island lies in the middle of the southern opening of the Porte des Morts passage off the tip of the Door Peninsula.

Pilot Island earned its name due to the use of the island as a "pilot" by sailors going through the dangerous Porte des Morts passage.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/Attraction/Details/90?region=ByAttractionType|title=Pilot Island Lighthouse - WI Shipwrecks|website=www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org|access-date=2018-06-26}}

The lighthouse started operations in 1858 and continues to this day to be a maritime navigational aid. The island was often foggy and the fog signal would run for long periods of time. The fog signal was discontinued in 1962.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=ien.35556031883770&view=1up&seq=36&skin=2021 Wisconsin Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment Environmental assessment: Disposition of Public Domain Properties] by Gayle F. Gordon, Parcel Descriptions and Resources by County, Door County, August 14, 2000, page 28