September 23, 2020
The sunrise at Cave Point County Park is nothing less than spectacular. Even though I had to get up that morning MUCH earlier than I wanted to in order to be in position for the sunrise, I will never regret it. Wow. I got a few photos that I think are pretty good, but honestly I have to say I can’t do the place justice. I’m not really sure anyone could. Just before sunrise, I picked my way carefully along a cliff top where enormous root systems from the overhanging trees have been exposed, feeling as though I was walking through some medieval forest overlooking a tempestuous sea.
It was almost ethereal. All of the overlooks are amazing, and there are a few places where the bluff itself had been knifed through in huge gashes, allowing me to look down though them to the roiling waters of the lake a hundred feet below.
I moved around some to get different photographic perspectives, but not that much. Mostly I just wanted to drink it all in. The chill of the wind, the sound of the waves, the changes in the emerging sunlight as it illuminated the cliffs and finally the water, the freshness of the air washing in over Lake Michigan. There were very few people at daybreak; I was greeted by one other hardy photographer, schlepping his tripod and camera equipment through the trees behind me to scout a location of his own. Otherwise it was deserted; a perfect morning that once again made me grateful to God for the opportunity to just be there. I arrived about 5:30, I think, and finally left around 8am.
Along the way, although it wasn’t a particular target, I stopped off at the Ellison Point Overlook. It’s just a spot along Ellison Bluff Road, but it was a pretty landscape and worth the investment of 10 minutes to see if you find yourself in the vicinity of the Ellison Bluff Natural Area.
One of the primary targets for me on this excursion was the photographing of Potawatomi Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on Lake Michigan. I never made it. Potawatomi Lighthouse, also known as the Rock Island Light, is located in Rock Island State Park, on Rock Island in Door County, Wisconsin. Lit in 1836, it is the oldest light station in Wisconsin and on Lake Michigan. It was served by civilian light keepers from 1836 to the 1940s, at which point it was taken over by the US Coast Guard. In order to get to Potawatomi Lighthouse, one must take a ferry to Washington Island (typically that ferry carries you in your vehicle) and then another ferry (which only carries pedestrians) from Washington Island to Rock Island, the home of the Potawatomi Lighthouse. Unfortunately for me, no ferry is running to Rock Island and the Potawatomi Lighthouse at all during 2020 due to concerns about COVID. I was able to make it to Washington Island, and as a result, had the opportunity to explore and photograph several interesting farms. I also saw and photographed a Stavkirke Chapel on the Island, the second one I have seen in my lifetime, both of which I have seen on excursions in 2020. Quite a coincidence!
I also had the opportunity to study a number of interesting maritime exhibits at Jackson Harbor.
On the ferry ride returning from Washington Island, I was able to photograph the Plum Island Rear Range Lighthouse, first lit in 1897.
According to historical records, the tower contains a center tube that houses the spiral staircase. Atop the tube lies a cylindrical watch room topped off by an octagonal lantern room. Four iron legs, braced between each other, support the watch and lantern rooms. The lantern room, filled with a fourth order Fresnel lens, displayed a fixed red light. To make sure the light was only visible to ships either down range or already in the passage, it was restricted to an arc of 231 degrees. The station also had a fog signal building that was made of brick, which was located a quarter mile westward from the residence. Both the keeper’s dwelling and the fog signal building are still located on-site; however, they are in terrible condition. The roof on the keeper’s dwelling has reportedly fallen through. The station was automated in 1969, and the fog signal was discontinued six years later. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are now in possession of the island. The lighthouse sits on Plum Island which is also owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Access is prohibited.
On my way back into town, I stopped at several more interesting buildings and barns to photograph them. I eventually made it to my next photography target, the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse (again, no street address is available, but the GPS coordinates are 44_27_26.67N by 87_29_34.4W).
Now owned by the city of Kewaunee and assisted by the Kewaunee County Historical Society. The lighthouse is described as one that personifies early twentieth century lighthouse architecture and engineering. It exemplifies design and construction methods used in building lighthouses and fog signal buildings on piers during that time period. The lighthouse was constructed to replace range lights constructed in 1891, and is located on the same pier. The fifth order Fresnel lens used in this facility came from the original front range light, and is one of less than 80 remaining in service. There is public access along the pier – which I followed to its end – but walking out there will likely mean dodging a few fishermen along the way. It was pretty brisk out there the evening I went out to take photographs, but I still enjoyed it a lot. This pier is much wider than most, and affords a lot of safety and confidence to those who stroll out to see the lighthouse.
The lighthouse end of the pier also offers a nice view of the evening skyline of downtown Kewaunee, and small city that I found charming. My favorite hotel on this trip was the Karsten Nest Hotel, which is walking distance from the pier and a great value. It’s located at 122 Ellis Street in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.