{{Short description|Lighthouse in Wisconsin, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox lighthouse | image_name = PilotIslandLight.jpg | location = Gills Rock, Wisconsin | coordinates = {{coord|45|17|3.067|N|86|55|11.012|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}<ref name=uscg7>{{cite uscgll|7|2014|}}</ref><ref>[https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Assets/Land/Lighthouses-Light-Stations/Article/1975420/pilot-island-light/ Pilot Island Light] in Lighthouse Resources: Historic Lighthouses & Light Stations, ''United States Coast Guard'', October 1, 2019</ref> | yearlit = 1858 | automated = 1962 | foundation = Concrete | construction = Milwaukee Cream City brick<ref name="terrypepper.com">[https://web.archive.org/web/20200208211756/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/pilotisland/index.html Pepper, Terry, Seeing the light, ''Pilot Island''.] (Archived February 8, 2020)</ref> | shape = Square | marking = yellow, black lantern and parapet | 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/20211023194853/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/towers.htm |archive-date=2021-10-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | focalheight = {{convert|48|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/20220303200040/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/lists/focalheight.htm |archive-date=2022-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens | range = {{convert|12|nmi}}<ref name=uscg7/> | characteristic = White, Flashing (2), 6 sec<ref name=uscg7/> | module = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Pilot Island Light | nrhp_type = | image = USCGpilotislandlight.JPG | caption = USCG archive photo | nearest_city = Gills Rock, Wisconsin | architect = | architecture = | added = November 21, 1983 | area = {{convert|3.5|acre}} | refnum = 83004279<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> }}}} thumb|292x292px frameless|321x321px The '''Pilot Island Light''' is a lighthouse located near Gills Rock, on Pilot Island at the east end of Death's Door passage, in Door County, Wisconsin.
The building's design is similar to Pottawatomie Light on Rock Island (and many others), but is made of brick instead of stone. Until 1910 it was called '''Port des Morts Island Light'''. The light was converted to electric in 1942 and automated in 1962.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Pilot Island Lighthouse |url=https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=640 |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=LighthouseFriends |language=en-us}}</ref>
==History== [[Image:DEATHS DOOR.png|thumb|left|Detail of NOAA Chart #14909]] The original Port des Morts Light was built on nearby Plum Island in 1849, but was closed and rebuilt on Pilot Island in 1858 to better mark the channel.
Frequent and oppressive fog made the passage hazardous, as well as making it an extremely lonely and forbidding place to work.<ref name="dcmm.org">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120205132356/http://www.dcmm.org/pilot.html Pilot Island Lighthouse], ''Door County Maritime Museum'', (Archived February 5, 2012)</ref> A fog bell signal was installed in 1862. In 1864 it was replaced by a foghorn. In 1875 it was converted to a steam powered fog siren. In 1880 a separate fog building was built for a "duplicate" fog siren. This began a {{convert|10|in|adj=on}} steam whistle and new building in 1900 (which still exists near water's edge).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190807214053/http://lighthouse.boatnerd.com/gallery/Michigan/PilotIsland.htm Wobser, David, Pilot Island Light] at boatnerd.com, (Archived August 7, 2019</ref> In 1904, there came a realization that the whistles were "less than effective" and they were replaced by dual diaphones.<ref name="terrypepper.com" /> The horns made living there difficult; fertilized eggs would be destroyed by the sounds.<ref name="dcmm.org" />
Due to the workload associated with the light and fog signal, the station was staffed by a keeper and two assistant keepers. This led to the conversion of an old fog signal building into housing for the second assistant keeper in 1901.<ref name=":0" />
It is one of ten lighthouses in Door County.<ref>[http://www.dcmm.org/cana-island-lighthouse/door-county-lighthouses/ Door County Lighthouses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507152544/http://www.dcmm.org/cana-island-lighthouse/door-county-lighthouses/ |date=2018-05-07 }}. Door County Maritime Museum.</ref> It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 as the Pilot Island Light, reference #83004279.<ref name="cr.nps.gov">National Park Service, [https://web.archive.org/web/20070207225943/http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/pilot.htm NPS Maritime History Project, Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Wisconsin] (Archived February 7, 2007)</ref>
The island is controlled by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge since 2007.<ref>[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/green-bay Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge]US Fish and Wildlife Service</ref> The grounds, dwelling and tower are closed to public use. The island is currently "abandoned, overgrown, and overrun" by a large cormorant population.<ref>{{cite rowlett|wi}}</ref>
== Pilot Island NW Site Shipwrecks == On October 17, 1892, the schooner ''JE Gilmore'' wrecked on the reef northwest of the island, very near to where the ''Forest'' had wrecked the year before. The crew remained aboard until a storm arrived on October 28, then abandoned ship. As the storm grew, the ''AP Nichols'' attempted to make the passage and was also driven onto the reef to join the ''Forest'' and ''JE Gilmore''. Keeper Martin Knudsen ventured out onto the reef in the middle of the storm and was able to rescue the crew of six. For this, he was awarded a silver lifesaving medal from the US government and the Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York's gold medal. Partly as a result of this, a US Lifesaving station was built on neighboring Plum Island in 1895.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Karges |first=Steven |title=Keepers of the Lights |publisher=Wm Caxton, Ltd |year=2000 |isbn=0940473399 |location=Ellison Bay, WI |pages=90–140}}</ref>
== See also == Pilot Island NW Site
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== {{refbegin}} * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070413132758/http://www.jacksjoint.com/pilot.htm Eckert, Jack, ''Life on Pilot Island in 1955''.]}} (Archived April 13, 2007) * 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}}. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070516041615/http://www.terrypepper.com/Lights/michigan/pilotisland/pilotisland.htm Pepper, Terry, Seeing the light, ''Port des Morts Light Station: Pilot Island, Door Peninsula, Wisconsin''], (Archived May 16, 2007) * {{cite web|url=http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm |author=Pepper, Terry |title=''Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes'' |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402173558/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/index.htm |archive-date=2022-04-02 }} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071225135208/http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/michigan/plumisland/plumstory/plum-story01.htm Robb, David, ''Recollections of Plum Island''] at ''Seeing the Light'', (Archived December 25, 2007) * 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== *{{commonscat inline}} *{{ARLHS link}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207235638/http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/plumrr.htm NPS Inventory of Historic Light Stations - Wisconsin], Plum Island Rear Range Light, (Archived February 7, 2007 *{{cite uscghist|WI}}
{{Lighthouses of Wisconsin}} {{Registered Historic Places}}
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Category:Lighthouses completed in 1858 Category:Lighthouses in Door County, Wisconsin Category:Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin Category:1858 establishments in Wisconsin Category:National Register of Historic Places in Door County, Wisconsin