{{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox lighthouse | image_name = MilwaukeePierhead.jpg | location = Milwaukee, Wisconsin | coordinates = {{coord|43|01|33.378|N|87|53|42.938|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}<ref name="navcen.uscg.gov">{{cite uscgll|7||}}</ref> | yearbuilt = 1872 | yearlit = 1872 | automated = circa 1939 | foundation = concrete pier | construction = Steel | shape = Frustum of a cone, decagonal lantern room | marking = Red with black lantern and parapet<ref name="uscg.mil">{{cite uscghist|WI}}</ref> | height = {{convert|41|ft}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towers.htm |author=Pepper, Terry |work=Seeing the Light |title=Database of Tower Heights |publisher=terrypepper.com |access-date=2009-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000918211817/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towers.htm |archive-date=2000-09-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | focalheight = {{convert|43|ft}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/focalheight.htm |author=Pepper, Terry |work=Seeing the Light |title=Database of Focal Heights |publisher=terrypepper.com |access-date=2009-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830100452/http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/lists/focalheight.htm |archive-date=2008-08-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | lens = Fourth-order Fresnel lens<ref name="uscg.mil"/> (original), unknown "modern beacon"<ref name="lighthousefriends.com">[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=244 Lighthouse friends, Milwaukee Pierhead Light article.]</ref> (current) | range = {{convert|7|nmi}}<ref name="navcen.uscg.gov"/> | characteristic = White flashing light every 4 seconds<ref name="navcen.uscg.gov">{{cite uscgll|7||}}</ref> | module = {{Infobox NRHP | name = Milwaukee Pierhead Light | embed = yes | location = Milwaukee, Wisconsin | added = November 2012<ref name=whs>{{cite web|title=Milwaukee Pierhead Light|date=January 2012 |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/NationalRegister/NR2365|publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society|accessdate=2020-01-03}}</ref> | area = less than one acre | refnum = 12000971<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> }} }} The '''Milwaukee Pierhead Light''' is an active lighthouse located in the Milwaukee harbor, just south of downtown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wlol.arlhs.com/lighthouse/USA498.html|title=Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, Milwaukee Pierhead (Lake Michigan) Light ARLHS USA-498}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://arlhs.com/awards/U_list.html |title=Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society, World List of Lights. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421203756/http://arlhs.com/awards/U_list.html |archivedate=2009-04-21 }}</ref> This aid to navigation is a 'sister' of the Kenosha North Pier Light.<ref name="Rowlett">{{cite rowlett|wi}}</ref>
==History== The station was established in 1872. It is west of the Milwaukee Breakwater Light, and is near the outflow of the Milwaukee River—not far east of where that river converged with the Kinnickinnic River—into the Milwaukee Harbor and Lake Michigan.<ref name="lighthousefriends.com"/> {{stack|[[File:USCGmilwaukeepierhead.JPG|thumb|right|USCG archive photo]]}} This light has a round steel tower with a round gallery and a ten-sided lantern. In 1926, the original 4th Order Fresnel lens was transferred to the Milwaukee Breakwater Light, and that lens is now displayed at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The Fifth Order Fresnel lens—installed in 1926—was removed in 2005. The tower is newly painted circa 2007.<ref>''But compare,'' {{cite rowlett|wi}} which opines that the whereabouts of the 5th Order lens are "unknown".</ref> The 5th Order lens is said to be on display also at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.<ref name="nps.gov">National Park Service [https://web.archive.org/web/20070704194319/http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/light/milwpier.htm Maritime History Project, Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Wisconsin - Milwaukee Pierhead Light.]</ref>
According to one source: "The original lantern room had helical bar windows and is believed to [be] the one presently on the Breakwater Light."<ref>[http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/milwaukee-pier.htm Wobser, David, Milwaukee Pier Head Light] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907143514/http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/milwaukee-pier.htm |date=2008-09-07 }}, Boatnerd</ref> This is corroborated by the report that the Breakwater Light has a "round cast iron lantern room [that] features helical astragal" in the lantern.<ref name="terrypepper.com">[http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/milwbreakwtr/milwbreakwtr.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Milwaukee Breakwater Light.]</ref>
A Submarine cable runs from this light to the Milwaukee Breakwater Light, upon which a lighted danger warning is displayed.<ref name="navcen.uscg.gov"/>
The light was recently painted, circa 2007.<ref name="Rowlett"/>
From 1872 until 1926, the light had its own keepers.<ref>12th District Survey of Pier Head light dated 1873.</ref><ref>[http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/milwpierhead/keepers.htm Tag, Phyllis L., Great Lakes Lighthouse Research, ''List of Milwaukee Pierhead/Breakwater Lighthouse keepers''.]</ref> Thereafter, this light, like all of the lights in the harbor, was serviced by the resident Lighthouse keepers who were stationed at the neighboring North Point Light Station until it was automated.<ref name="terrypepper.com"/>
The light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in November 2012.<ref name=whs/>
==Directions== The light is located in downtown Milwaukee, at the end of East Erie Street, which leads to a short pier. Parking is available. The pier may be walked, but the tower is closed.
25pxI-43 to east 25pxI-794. Take exit(1F)(Lincoln Memorial Drive), proceed north to Michigan Street. Turn right onto Michigan. Turn right onto Harbor Drive and proceed under the interstate to Polk Street. Turn right on Polk, which ends at Erie Street. Turn left on Erie into the parking lot where it ends.<ref>[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=243 Lighthouse friends, Milwaukee Breakwater Light article]</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist|33em}}
==Further reading== {{refbegin|33em}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080516085103/http://www.jacksjoint.com/mblh.htm Eckert, Jack A. ''A Small Slice of Life—Milwaukee Breakwater Light Station''.]}} Lighthouse Digest (October, 2003). * Havighurst, Walter (1943) ''The Long Ships Passing: The Story of the Great Lakes'', Macmillan Publishers. * Oleszewski, Wes, ''Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses'', (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) {{ISBN|0-932212-98-0}}. * {{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm|author=Pepper, Terry|title=''Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes''}} * Sapulski, Wayne S., (2001) ''Lighthouses of Lake Michigan: Past and Present'' (Paperback) (Fowlerville: Wilderness Adventure Books) {{ISBN|0-923568-47-6}}; {{ISBN|978-0-923568-47-4}}. * Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, ''Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia'' Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) {{ISBN|1-55046-399-3}}. {{refend}}
==External links== {{stack|{{Commons category|Milwaukee Pierhead Light}}}} *[http://www.leuchtturm-welt.net/HTML/USAPK/ORIGINAL/MILWAUK2.JPG Huelse, Klaus -- ''Meine Leuchtturm-Seite: Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten'' -- ''Historic postcard images of U.S. lighthouses'', Historic Post Card View — Milwaukee Pierhead Lighthouse.] * [https://maps.google.com/?UTF8&ll=43.025941,-87.895373&spn=0.001012,0.001684&t=h&z=19&om=1 Satellite view of Milwaukee Pierhead Light], Google earth. *[http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/milwpierhead/milwpierhead.htm Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light, Milwaukee Pierhead Light.] *[http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/milwaukee-pier.htm Wobser, David, Milwaukee Pier Head Light] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907143514/http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/milwaukee-pier.htm |date=2008-09-07 }}, Boatnerd
{{Lighthouses of Wisconsin}}
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Category:Lighthouses completed in 1872 Category:Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin Category:Tourist attractions in Milwaukee Category:National Register of Historic Places in Milwaukee Category:1872 establishments in Wisconsin Category:Lighthouses of Lake Michigan Category:Transportation in Milwaukee