KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A piece of history is coming to life along the Lakeshore. The Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse will open Saturday for public tours for the first time.
Jake Heffernan is with Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse.
“This lighthouse has been pretty much the icon of this community since it was built.”
The pier was built in 1912, and the current building has served as a lighthouse since 1931.
Over the past four years, Heffernan tells FOX 11 the group, along with the City of Kewaunee, renovated the exterior.
“We replaced the roof. We replaced the siding. All of this stuff is long term, and it looks great. It really upped the appearance of the lighthouse, even though its purpose was exclusively just to stabilize the structure, and prevent it from deteriorating more.”
On Saturday, the doors will be open and people will be invited to tour the inside.
“This is absolutely history comes alive. This is awesome to see,” said Heffernan.
Heffernan will be the guide. It’s 14 steps to the second floor.
“We’ll walk through this entire length of the structure, and then we’ll head up to the fog signal deck.”
It’s a tight squeeze up to the third floor. There are 23 more steps before people can reach the lantern room.
At the top, Heffernan will turn on the new L.E.D. light, and explain the history of the beacon. And even though the view from the 43-foot tower may be shrouded in fog, Heffernan says that’s fine with him.
“It’s a real nice quiet place out here at the end of the pier. And being on top of the lighthouse makes it that much better.”
Tours run only on Saturday, July 20, from 2-5 p.m.
The event is free, but donations will be accepted.
In the future, the group hopes to open the lighthouse for tours on a regular basis.
