Milwaukee's first lighthouse was erected in 1837 on a 56 foot bluff at the east end of Wisconsin Ave. It was replaced in 1855 by a 28 foot tower 100 feet east of the present location. Erosion forced rebuilding in the 1870's and relocation inland. Construction was entirely of bolted cast Iron sections. In 1912, a steel plate lower section was built and the iron tower placed on top, giving the light a height of 160 feet above the lake.

The first lantern burned mineral oil. A new lens, installed in 1868, is still in use. The present light source is a 25,000 candlepower lamp rotated electrically and controlled by an automatic time clock. The lens focuses a 1,300,000 candlepower signal visible for 25 miles. 

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