Northpoint in Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

North Point Light Station

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 7, 2011

1. North Point Light Station Marker

Inscription. The North Point Light Station has a long history of guiding mariners to Milwaukee. Its location was chosen to mark the north point of Milwaukee Bay. Erected in 1887 and first lit in 1888, the 39-foot octagonal cast-iron tower replaced an 1855 cream-city brick lighthouse built too close to the eroding bluff. The Queen Anne–style keeper’s dwelling was built at the same time. In 1912 the tower was almost doubled to its present height of 74 feet by lifting the existing tower atop a new structure. This resulted in a light source 154 feet above the level of Lake Michigan visible up to 20 miles away. The United States Coast Guard took the light out of service in 1994. In 2003 the two-acre property was transferred to Milwaukee County. The North Point Lighthouse Friends and Milwaukee County completed restoration of the light station in 2007.

Erected 2010 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 535.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses, and the Wisconsin Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 43° 3.924′ N, 87° 52.257′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County.

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It is in Northpoint. Marker can be reached from the intersection of North Wahl Avenue and North Terrace Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Located within Lake Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2650 N Wahl Ave, Milwaukee WI 53211, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Prehistoric Burial Mound (approx. 0.4 miles away); Saint Mary's School of Nursing (approx. half a mile away); Saint John's Infirmary (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old North Point Water Tower (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lake Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Milwaukee Harp Luminaire (approx. 0.6 miles away); Villa Terrace (approx. ¾ mile away); The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This link is to the previous marker that this marker replaced.

Also see . . . North Point Lighthouse Friends, Inc. (Submitted on October 19, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin.)

Additional keywords. Lighthouses

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 7, 2011

2. North Point Light Station Marker

East side of light station

North Point Light Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 7, 2011

3. North Point Light Station

West side of light station

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 7, 2011

4. North Point Light Station

Museum sign

Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 16, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 904 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 16, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. 3, 4. submitted on October 17, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.