Good forHistory buffs
Built in 1869 to replace an earlier lighthouse, the Baileys Harbor Range Lights are a pair of towers aligned on a 340-degree bearing line to guide ships safely into the harbor. They were decommissioned in 1969, and after the Ridges Sanctuary took possession in 1990, both buildings were restored and eventually returned to service with modern LED lamps in 2015. The lights sit within the Ridges wildlife sanctuary, a National Natural Landmark, where the grounds are open to visitors and guided tours run during peak season.
Quick facts
- ·The Baileys Harbor Range Lights were built in 1869. At the time, Baileys Harbor was considered the only safe harbor (harbor of refuge) north of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan. The town was a busy logging center, shipping cordwood, cedar posts/poles, and hemlock bark to other Great Lakes ports. (Source: wisconsinlife.org, 'Baileys Harbor Range Lights Guide Boats To Safety')
- ·The two range lights worked as a matched pair for navigation: the rear (Upper) light showed a steady white light and the front (Lower) light showed a steady red light, roughly 950 feet apart. Ships entering the harbor kept the white light aligned directly above/over the red light to stay on the safe deep-water channel through the harbor entrance. (Source: doorcountypulse.com, 'Baileys Harbor's Range Lights'; corroborated by wisconsinlife.org)
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Editorial content compiled with AI assistance. Place details verified against public records.