You don’t need to venture far into northern Door County to encounter lighthouses. Sturgeon Bay has several lighthouses, and you can visit three of them. This guide will help you learn more about lighthouses in Sturgeon Bay so that you can plan your visit.
Make sure to check out some of our other posts relating to Sturgeon Bay. We have a great review of Sturgeon Bay restaurants, and run-down of some of our favorite hotels in Sturgeon Bay on HelloDoorCounty.com
Summary
- Sturgeon Bay has 4 lighthouses.
- The Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower is the most prominent of the Sturgeon Bay lighthouses. It is worth a visit even though it has never been a functioning navigational aid.
- The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse is the most iconic Sturgeon Bay lighthouse.
- The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse is also worth a visit.
- The Sherwood Point Lighthouse is generally only visible from the water.
Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower
Quick Facts:
- Built in 2022
- Inspired by Door County lighthouses
- Gives a great aerial view of Sturgeon Bay
- Has never been a functioning navigational aid
The most prominent lighthouse in Sturgeon Bay is the Maritime Lighthouse Tower at the Door County Maritime Museum.
While this has never been a functional navigational aid, this striking attraction opens a portal to the unique geography and industry of Door County.
One powerful way it helps visitors understand Door County’s unique geography and industry is through its 10th Floor observation deck. With windows opening out to the north, east, and west, it, visitors can take in the magnificent body of water that is the bay of Sturgeon Bay. Sturgeon Bay’s working waterfront of tugboats and shipyards is on full display here. This is an excellent way to observe in real life the topics that the rest of the museum explores.
The other floors of the tower also have exhibits. The first floor houses a theater that displays a striking movie about the unique geography of Door County. Other floors have exhibits allowing visitors to explore topics such as lighthouses, navigation, and wildlife.
Plan to spend at least a half hour in the lighthouse tower.
You can learn more about the Door County Maritime Museum in our comprehensive review.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1881
- Automated in 1972
There’s just something about the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse that connects with the soul. While it is not the biggest or most architecturally sophisticated Door County lighthouse, there’s something about its ruggedness and its courageous position, far out into the waters of Lake Michigan, that connects with people. Despite being relatively small, this is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Door County, and easily recognizable from its frequent use in Door County literature and on people’s Instagram feeds.
Built in 1881 to guide ships into the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, the Pierhead Lighthouse is 35 feet above the waters of Lake Michigan. It is painted red given its status as a navigational aid right on the channel leading into the ship canal. Maritime navigational buoys have a color system: when returning from the sea, red buoys should stay on the right of your ship, and the green buoys should stay on your left. (The old nmemonic device to remember this is the alliterative “Red on the right when returning from the sea.”) This color scheme has been extended to this light.
The inside of the lighthouse is not generally available for public tour, although good views are available from the public access to the breakwater. To get here, take County Road TT east from the city of Sturgeon Bay until it makes a sharp left turn at the Coast Guard station. A gravel parking lot is located at this turn. A walkway continue straight ahead, with a yellow line down the middle. Make sure to stay on the left side of the yellow line, as veering to the right puts you on Coast Guard property.
Good views are also available from the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. Click here for a map to the Nature Preserve.
For more information about this iconic structure, check out our comprehensive post on the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse
Quick Facts:
- Built in 1899
- Automated in 1972
This light was built in 1899 when it became evident that the North Pierhead Light House, while useful, was not sufficient to help guide ships to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal from Lake Michigan. Piercing 107 feet into the air above Lake Michigan, it is an impressive and striking structure, although the structure as it currently stands has changed quite drastically from when it was originally constructed. The external bracing on this lighthouse was not added until 1903 and was put in place to solve a vibration problem. The original engineering did not adequately stand up to the rigors posed by Lake Michigan’s strong winds.
The inside of the lighthouse is not generally available for public tour, although good views are available from the public access to the breakwater. To get here, take County Road TT east from the city of Sturgeon Bay until it makes a sharp left turn at the Coast Guard station. A gravel parking lot is located at this turn. A walkway continue straight ahead, with a yellow line down the middle. Make sure to stay on the left side of the yellow line, as veering to the right puts you on Coast Guard property.
Good views are also available from the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. Click here for a map to the Nature Preserve.
For more information about this gorgeous lighthouse, check out out comprehensive post on the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse
Quick Facts
- Built in 1883
- Automated in 1983
- Last manned lighthouse on the Great Lakes
- Only Door County lighthouse built with red brick instead of the customary cream city brick
- Generally not open to the public
The Sherwood Point Lighthouse played a crucial role in the development of Sturgeon Bay as a major port in the Great Lakes. Until the construction of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay was a relatively minor port on the Great Lakes due to its seasonality, as it was heavily iced in most winters. However, when the ship canal was set to be built, it became necessary to construct navigational aids, and this lighthouse helped mark the west side of the north entrance to Sturgeon Bay.
The Sherwood Point Lighthouse is owned by the Coast Guard and is not open to the public. However, it is part of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program of the Coast Guard and thus is available to members of the military to rent as a vacation home. Additionally, access may be available during the Door County Maritime Museum’s annual Lighthouse Festivals.
For more information about this historical lighthouse, check out our post on the Sherwood Point Lighthouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sturgeon Bay has 3 lighthouses that have actually served as navigational aids. Additionally, Sturgeon Bay has 1 tower built in the style of a lighthouse.
The Maritime Lighthouse of the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay has never functioned as a navigational aid. However, it is still worth a visit for the views and exhibits available there.
The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse is well-known and frequently photographed.
Conclusion
Visiting a Sturgeon Bay lighthouse is a must-do, even if you are only in Sturgeon Bay for a brief visit. The easiest and most prominent lighthouse to access is the Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower at the Door County Maritime Museum. However, a visit to the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse and the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse is also easy and provides a more authentic experience. If you are interested in learning about other lighthouses in the area, check out our comprehensive post on Door County lighthouses.
