Cana Island

Baileys Harbor, WI

The Cana Island Light Station has illuminated the Lake Michigan coastline of Door County for more than 146 years. The Keeper’s Residence and Light Tower were constructed on the remote 8.7-acre site in 1869 of cream city brick. The Station complex grew over the years to include a privy, oil house, and storage shed. The Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The restoration project is a phased implementation effort starting with the rehabilitation of the exterior envelopes of the Keeper’s Residence and the Light Tower. The outbuildings – Oil House, Privy, and Storage Shed – were restored.

An Interpretive Center was built to provide adequate space to accommodate the gift shop functions, previously located within the keeper’s residence. An exhibit area was created for the Fresnel lens being removed from the light tower. A new admission area is also included within the structure. 

The final phase centered on the rehabilitation of the interior of the keeper’s residence and light tower. Limited public access and deterioration caused by Wisconsin weather had narrowed the opportunities for visitors. In the keeper’s residence, all wood flooring, plaster walls, and ceilings were restored, including removing many layers of modern wallpaper. Updated electrical and HVAC systems were also installed. The light tower’s lantern, lamp deck, watch room, and deck received appropriate paint and restoration. Plaster was removed from the tower to expose original Cream City brick.