National Register of Historic Places

Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse

Neenah, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
Listed
February 5, 2013
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
12001275

About this property

The Neenah Light (also known as the Kimberly Point Lighthouse) is located in Kimberly Point Park in Neenah, Wisconsin. The lighthouse marks the entrance of Lake Winnebago into the Lower Fox River. The City of Neenah began in 1835 as an agricultural and industrial mission for the Menominee Indians. It was named after the American Indian term for water. After the Civil War, rail transportation was a large factor in the growth of Neenah's local economy. One major outcome of this was the development of the Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 1872. John Alfred Kimberly was one of four men who started this successful company. In 1929, Helen Kimberly Stuart (daughter of J. A. Kimberly) donated some land to the City of Neenah. This land, which overlooked the confluence of Lake Winnebago and the Fox River, was named Kimberly Point Park. In 1944, J. C. Kimberly (son of J. A. Kimberly) realized there was a need for a light to mark the entrance to the river. He donated the $7,500 and hired Flour Brothers Construction Company of nearby Oshkosh for the construction of a 40-foot (12 m), brick and Haydite block lighthouse. The lighthouse began guiding boaters into the Neenah Harbor in 1945. It was later raised to 49 feet (15 m) in 1954. In order to protect the site's historic character, the Neenah Landmarks Commission added Kimberly Point Lighthouse to the municipal Register of Historic Places in 2009. Three years later, the lighthouse was added to the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places, and in 2013 it was approved for the National Register of Historic Places. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Eastern Wisconsin". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Wisconsin". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on May 1, 2017.

Location

290 Lake Shore Ave.
Neenah, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
44.18747, -88.44183

Categories

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
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.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Sensenbrenner, J. Leslie, House
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0.2 mi
Smith, Charles R., House
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0.3 mi
Beals, Edward D. & Vina Shattuck, House
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0.3 mi
Grand Loggery
Industrial
0.3 mi
East Forest Avenue Historic District
Modern
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse listed on the National Register?

Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 5, 2013.

What type of historic resource is Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse?

Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse?

The period of significance for Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Kimberly Point Park Lighthouse?

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