Just in time for the National Park Service's 100th birthday on August 25, northern Wisconsin's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is opening an exhibit celebrating its nine lighthouses—the most within a single National Park Service jurisdiction.
Built between 1856 and 1915, the beacons dot an archipelago of remote islands at the northern tip of the state's Bayfield peninsula. The lighthouses helped numerous boats navigate the icy waters of Lake Superior. Today, a multiyear, $7 million restoration project to restore these historic structures is almost complete.
The exhibit—featuring photos, maps, documents, and lots of rugged nautical yarns—is housed in the newly restored Michigan Island Lighthouse, the oldest of the bunch. If you visit from August 30 to September 17, you can take part in special events and tours offered during the annual Apostle Islands Lighthouse Celebration.
If you like lighthouses, this is your Woodstock.
