National Register of Historic Places

Apostle Islands Lighthouses

Bayfield, Ashland County, Wisconsin
Listed
March 8, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000145

About this property

There are several historic lighthouses on Lake Superior on or near the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. Six of these lighthouses, all in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, were listed as a group on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 under the name Apostle Islands Lighthouses. The lighthouses are generally located at the edge of the group of islands, as beacons to guide shipping through and around the islands. The need for guidance increased in 1855 when the Soo Locks opened, connecting Lake Superior to the St. Lawrence Seaway to the east. Shipping also increased as Duluth-Superior grew, and with the opening of Ashland's first ore dock in 1886. The Apostle Islands lighthouses are popular among tourists. Lighthouse historian Terry Pepper has described them as "one of the more interesting geographically centered collection of [lighthouse] structures" in the United States. Another lighthouse historian, F. Ross Holland, has called them "the largest and finest single collection of lighthouses in the country." Michigan Island Lighthouse 1857 (Two lighthouses located at this site) La Pointe Lighthouse and Chequamegon Point Lighthouse (listed together as the La Pointe Light Station, #83003366) Ashland Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse - In the vicinity, but not technically in the Apostle Islands. Major restoration projects were initiated at several of the lighthouses of the Apostle Islands in 2013.

Location

Bayfield, Ashland County, Wisconsin
47.02943, -90.65695

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Apostle Islands Lighthouses

This page lists Apostle Islands Lighthouses. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Apostle Islands Lighthouses report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Rocky Island Historic District
Listed
0.9 mi
Hadland Fishing Camp
Industrial
1.1 mi
Manitou Camp
Industrial
5.2 mi
Hokenson Fishing Dock
Industrial
12.5 mi
Shaw Farm
Industrial
13.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Apostle Islands Lighthouses listed on the National Register?

Apostle Islands Lighthouses was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Apostle Islands Lighthouses?

Apostle Islands Lighthouses is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Apostle Islands Lighthouses?

The period of significance for Apostle Islands Lighthouses is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Apostle Islands Lighthouses?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Apostle Islands Lighthouses will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ashland County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Ashland County.

Explore AshlandCounty ›

More historic places in Wisconsin

Browse all historic places in Wisconsin.

View Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Wisconsin history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Wisconsinhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Apostle Islands Lighthouses will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report