A Wisconsin Vacation Must Include a Trip to the Wind Point Lighthouse in Wisconsin
Just on the edge of Racine, WI is the small town of Wind Point. It is right on the edge of Lake Michigan. Michigan tourism should include a visit to this little village and the beautiful Wind Point Lighthouse. The beauty of the grounds and the heritage that encompases it make for a wonderful stop on your vacation.
Enjoying the Racine area will give you many opportunities to see some gorgeous views. You will be able to explore the heritage of the area as well as tour a variety of excellent museums, but the museum that will definiately focus in your mind for a long time is the visit to the edges of Lake Michigan and the views you will see from the Wind Point Light Station. Take along a picnic lunch to eat on the grounds. Watch the waves break as they come in from this wonderous lake and think about all the boaters that have traveled these waters over the years to bring goods to the area or to haul up goods for commerce at distant points. Enjoy the time to appreciate the opportunity to see the power, learn of the heritage and appreciate the architecture from the past that built this structure in the days before modern construction and computer generated drawings. It is quite a site.
One of the more popular Wisconsin attractions, the light house itself is closed except for special days but the grounds are open to the public everyday from sunrise to 11 pm The light house is open on the first Sundays in June, July, August, September, and October. Because of the high desire to see for miles at the top of the lighthouse, reservations are required. Light Station Tours run from ten a.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a ten dollar per person fee.
You will be able to learn about the heritage of this light house when you visit. It was built in 1880 and is the oldest and tallest Lighthouse in operation on Lake Michigan. Although it started out with Kerosene-fired lenses it was electrified in 1924 and then modernized in 1964. Since the station towers 110 feet at its focal plane the light is visible for a distance of nineteen miles. Just imagine the thousands of sailors that have been saved from disaster because of this Lighthouse leading their way to safety.
The lighthouse was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The town of Wind Point was awarded ownership of the property by the National Park Service in 1997. The Coast Guard still maintains the lighthouse as a public navigation aid.
Arrive and see this gorgeous part of times past and perhaps, take a vacation to tour the other Lighthouses along the Lake. It will make a fantastic Wisconsin vacation for you.