Cana Island Lighthouse

Explore Door County’s most iconic lighthouse, celebrating over 150 years of standing watch on the shore of Lake Michigan.

The Cana Island Lighthouse is located just north of Baileys Harbor and was built in 1869 to replace the Baileys Harbor lighthouse. It is still used as an active navigational aid under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The lighthouse and the keeper’s quarters have been open for visitors since the 1970s. 

The lighthouse and keeper’s quarters were originally built from cream city brick which quickly started deteriorating in the harsh winter conditions. In1902, steel cladding was added to prevent further erosion. The lens is a special Fresnel lens that came all the way from France. The light was originally fueled with lard and then kerosene which had to be carried up by the lighthouse keeper each night to keep the light lit until it received electricity in 1945. The tower is 89 feet tall, with 102 steps winding up to the top. 

Cana Island is connected to the mainland via a rocky channel, which at times is covered by up to three feet of Lake Michigan water. Today, the island is accessed by round-trip tractor-pulled hay wagon rides from May through October. Visitors must be at least 5 years old and 42 inches tall to climb the lighthouse tower. Admission to Cana Island and the lighthouse is $10 per person for those 5 and up.