The first land based light at Racine Harbor was built in 1838 as the Root River Lighthouse, and was one of the first lighthouses constructed on Lake Michigan. The first pierhead light at Racine was a wooden structure completed in 1872. The 1838 land light was demolished in 1876. In the late 1890's, new breakwater walls were built to further protect the harbor.
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A new steel light was built to replace the original wooden pier light in 1902. A concrete crib was added to the pier to support the new heavier steel structure, and the wooden light demolished. In 1910, the light was rebuilt yet again with a slightly larger 46 ft. tall steel and iron structure. The light originally featured a 4th Order Fresnel lens.
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