Pilot Island Light
Oct. 1, 2019
Pilot Island Light (Port des Morts Island Light), near Gills Rock, Pilot Island, Door County, Wisconsin
Pilot Island Light (Port des Morts Island Light), near Gills Rock, Pilot Island, Door County, Wisconsin
PILOT ISLAND LIGHT
Location: PORTE DES MORTS PASSAGE/LAKE MICHIGAN
Station Established: 1858
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1873
Operational? YES
Automated? YES 1962
Deactivated: N/A
Foundation Materials: CONCRETE
Construction Materials: BRICK
Tower Shape: SQUARE
Markings/Pattern: YELLOW WITH RED ROOF
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
- In 1858 a light was built on Porte des Mortes Island.
- In 1864 a fog signal was installed.
- In 1875 a more powerful fog signal was installed to address complaints that the existing one was inadequate.
- In 1880 a backup signal was installed.
- In 1891 a dock and boathouse were added to the west side of the island to make landing easier and less dangerous.
- In 1962 the light was automated and the Fresnel lens was removed at either that time or a later date.
- In 1972 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- In 1975 the Island was renamed Pilot Island.
- In 1980 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- The buildings are maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources while the optic is maintained by the Coast Guard.
Researched and written by Anne Puppa, a volunteer through the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society.