Wisconsin Point Light
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Wisconsin Point Light
| image = Superior-lighthouse-horcapt-tom-mackay.jpg
| caption = Wisconsin Point Lighthouse
| location = Superior Wisconsin
| coordinates = {{coord|46|42|36.5|N|92|00|23|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}{{cite uscgll|7|2014|}}
| yearbuilt = 1913
| yearlit = 1913
| automated = 1970
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation = Concrete pier
| construction = Concrete
| shape = Cylindrical, atop square (rounded corners) keeper's house
| marking = White with red lantern, red roof on house
| height = {{convert|56|ft}}
| focalheight = {{convert|70|ft}}{{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm |author=Pepper, Terry|title=Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes}}
| lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), DCB 24 Carlisle & Finch Aerobeacon{{Cite web |url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/superhbr.htm |title=National Park Service, Maritime History Project, Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Wisconsin - Wisconsin Point Light. |access-date=2006-02-20 |archive-date=2006-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209171658/http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/superhbr.htm |url-status=dead }} (current)
| characteristic = Green flashing, 5 s
| fogsignal = HORN: 1 blast ev 30s (3s bl); operates from May 1 to October 20
| module = {{Infobox NRHP|embed=yes
| name = Superior Entry South Breakwater Light
| nrhp_type =
| image =
| caption =
| builder = U.S. Bureau of Lighthouses
| added = March 1, 2007
| area = less than one acre
| mpsub = Light Stations of the United States MPS
| refnum = 07000102{{NRISref|version=2013a}}}}
}}
The Wisconsin Point Light is a lighthouse located in Superior, on Wisconsin Point, in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States.
The light and attached fog horn building sits within a {{convert|10|mi|km|adj=on}} long sand bar – stretching between the ports of Duluth and Superior. This sand bar makes the Duluth–Superior Harbor one of the safest harbors in the world. It is "reputedly the longest freshwater sand bar in the world" and is split by this opening near its center, where the lighthouse is located. The Minnesota side of the opening is known as "Minnesota Point" (Park Point) and the Wisconsin side is known as "Wisconsin Point."[http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/superior/wiscpoint/wiscpoint.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Superior Entry Lighthouse.] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. It stands erect at 70 ft. tall.
History
{{stack|File:Wisconsin Point Light house.jpg}}
The original Fresnel lens was manufactured by Sautter, Lemonnier, and Company of Paris in 1890.[http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Superior/wisconsinpoint.htm Wobser, David, Wisconsin Point (Superior South Breakwater) Light], boatnerd.com {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725035956/http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Superior/wisconsinpoint.htm |date=2008-07-25 }} It was replaced with a DCB-224 aero beacon[http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/illumination/aerobeacon/dcb224.htm Aero beacon, Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light.] manufactured by the Carlisle & Finch Company.{{Cite web |url=http://www.carlislefinch.com/marine/aidsnav.htm |title=Carlisle & Finch Company. |access-date=2008-09-12 |archive-date=2009-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309202653/http://carlislefinch.com/marine/aidsnav.htm |url-status=dead }}
It is an active navigational aid and is known as the South Breakwater Light by the United States Coast Guard in the Volume VII light list and the United States Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System.
It is located on the southern Superior Harbor entry breakwall. The Saint Louis River, which rises in Minnesota, becomes the Saint Louis Bay, then flows into Superior Bay and exits into Lake Superior via the ship canals, at each end of (Park Point) Minnesota Point.
In July 2019, the lighthouse superstructure was put up for sale in an online auction by the U.S. GSA. The breakwater upon which it sits and the navigational aid housed within would remain U.S. Government property after the sale.{{cite web |title=Superior Entry Light |url=https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucdsclnk?sl=CHICA119003001 |website=GSA Auctions |publisher=U.S. General Services Administration |accessdate=14 August 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814175043/https://gsaauctions.gov/gsaauctions/aucdsclnk?sl=CHICA119003001 |archivedate=14 August 2019}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
{{refbegin}}
- Havighurst, Walter (1943) The Long Ships Passing: The Story of the Great Lakes, Macmillan Publishers.
- Oleszewski, Wes, Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) {{ISBN|0-932212-98-0}}.
- {{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm |author=Pepper, Terry|title=Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes}}
- Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) {{ISBN|1-55046-399-3}}.
{{refend}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Wisconsin Point Light}}
- [http://marinas.com/view/lighthouse/897 Aerial photos of Wisconsin Point, South Breakwater Light, Marina.com.]
- {{cite rowlett|wi2}}
- [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=262 Lighthouse friends, Wisconsin Point Light article]
- [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=46.710273,-92.006797&spn=0.003796,0.006738&t=h&z=17&om=1 Satellite view, Superior Entry South Breakwater (Wisconsin Point) Light, by Google.com.]
- {{cite uscghist|WI}}
- {{cite uscgll|7||}}
{{Lighthouses of Wisconsin}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Lighthouses completed in 1913
Category:Buildings and structures in Douglas County, Wisconsin
Category:Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin
Category:Tourist attractions in Douglas County, Wisconsin
Category:1913 establishments in Wisconsin
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Douglas County, Wisconsin