Lighthouses & Range Lights of Door County, Wisconsin

Rating:
Summary: The Lights at Death's Door
Review: For over one hundred and fifty years the lighthouses of Door County, Wisconsin have kept mariners safe from harm on a hazardous coast. In fact, this county once had more lighthouses than any other in the country. This little book tells their tale and that of the men who kept the sacred trust of keeping those lights burning.

But, this book is also much more. It is an excellent introduction to the history of the peninsula from earliest European discovery, to the settlement of the Old North West, to the industrial boom days, to the modern day. Separate chapters are devoted to famous lighthouses in world history, as well as, the history of American lighthouses and the Lighthouse Service. There is also an excellent chapter on the history of shipping on the lakes with descriptions and illustrations of the types of vessels involved in hauling timber, stone, iron ore, passengers, and in fishing.

Virtually every surviving lighthouse is covered in this book with detailed data on location, access for viewing, history, construction and design, height of tower and of light above water level, and current ownership and administration. Excellent line drawings of the towers and associated buildings are provided (the architectural complexity and variation is remarkable.)

A section describing the current maritime museums, as well as functioning shipyards that offer tours, in the area is included in the back.

Note: "Range lights" are a set of lights that are lined up to indicate a safe channel (usually a taller aligned with a shorter beacon.)