The first lighthouse at Sheboygan Harbor was built in 1839 at Sheboygan Point. By 1845, a wooden pier was constructed at the mouth of the Sheboygan River and the maritime traffic began increasing. A new improved pier system was built in the 1870s, and a North Breakwater Light added in 1873. The new light mysteriously burned to the ground in 1880, and a replacement quickly rebuilt.
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The last lighthouse built on the breakwater, the one standing today, was built in 1915. The 51 foot tall cast iron conical tower was prefabricated offsite and shipped to Sheboygan by boat. An octagonal lantern room (similar to Kenosha Pierhead Light) originally crowned the tower, but was later removed when the modern plastic lens was added. The light is still an active aid to navigation.
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