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Property Location
Property Features
The historic names for these structures are "Racine Harbor Lighthouse and Life Saving Station." The lantern room has been removed from the property.
When it was completed in 1866, it stood on a rock filled crib two hundred feet off shore.It was later connected to the mainland by a man made peninsula. In 1903, when the life saving station was completed, the light was moved to the steel tower. The Coast Guard vacated the station in the early 1970.
"During the last half of the 19th century Racine was an important Great Lakes commercial port. Because ships faced many dangers in the often-treacherous Lake Michigan, lighthouses were built at various places along the shoreline. Racine's harbor lighthouse was built in 1866 by the Jensen Brothers. Set on a rock-filled timber crib at the end of a long pier, the building had a rectangular tower equipped with a fixed white beacon light.
In 1903 the light was removed to a steel tower further out on the north pier. That same year, a two-story lifesaving station with pyramidal-roofed lookout tower was completed.
Shortly after the Life Saving Service was merged with the Coast Guard in 1915, the island status of the lighthouse ended. The pier was filled in and piling pulled from under the structures. The buildings now stand on a peninsula built out from the mainland over a period of years.
In 1973 the Coast Guard discontinued its service in Racine. Today the lighthouse and lifesaving station serve as quarters for the County Water Safety Patrol. The two buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places." Renewing Our Roots: The Northside, Racine, Wisconsin, Preservation-Racine, Inc., not dated.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
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Plum Island
10000385
Located in Town of Washington, Door County
Racine Harbor North Pier
75000077
Located in Racine, Racine County
