MADISON – The Two Door County lighthouses, which are open to the public during the summer tourist season, are featured in a new documentary airing in December on public television stations PBS Wisconsin.
Cana Island Lighthouse at Baileys Harbor and Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park are among the lights in “Wisconsin Lighthouses,” premiering Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. on PBS Wisconsin stations, with an encore airing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday December 19, 10. It will also be available for streaming at pbswisconsin.org/lighthouses and on the PBS app shortly after the broadcast. In Door County, the program can be seen on WPNE-TV Channel 38 from Green Bay, if not streaming after the premiere.
A PBS news release said the program aims to illustrate the power and appeal of Wisconsin lighthouses by exploring their history, environment, unique architecture and the people who served as lightkeepers and called them home. Their importance to the state’s vast maritime history was also noted, not only as guides for boats to safe harbors since the mid-19th century, but also for their architectural significance.
“These are beautiful treasures that tell the story of how we got to where we are today,” Wisconsin Lighthouses producer Jeff Pfeiffer said in the release. “I want people to walk away with a deeper appreciation for not only the lighthouses, but also an appreciation for the sacrifices the keepers and their families made.”
Cana Island and Eagle Bluff are two of eleven lights in Door County, either on the peninsula or just offshore on islands in Lake Michigan or Green Bay Bay.
Built in 1869, Cana Island is widely considered the most iconic and most photographed lighthouse in Door County, with an 80-foot tower and a 97-step spiral staircase to the outdoor gallery deck at the top. It underwent a restoration, completed in 2023, which included the installation of a new visitors center. It is open to the public for tours from May through October, operated by the Door County Maritime Museum and Lighthouse Preservation Society.
Built in 1868, Eagle Bluff recently completed the first phase of its restoration project. Run by the Door County Historical Society, it is open for self-guided tours from mid-May to mid-October.
This article originally appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County lighthouses were featured on the new PBS program that aired in December
