A Day Trip to Kenosha and Racine - Part Two

Thinking of warmer days reminds me of the day trip I took to the Racine and Kenosha Lighthouses this past summer. My previous entry shared the story of the Kenosha lighthouses. This entry will finish the Racine side of the trip. Similar to Kenosha’s harbor history, several lighthouses stood along the Racine shoreline and piers to aid mariners.

Today, two lighthouses still stand, while another one has been converted into a home part of the Coast Guard. The original lighthouse of Racine was the Root River Lighthouse, a Cream City brick tower. It was built in 1839, decommissioned in 1865 and torn down in 1876. Taking its place was the 1866 Racine Harbor Lighthouse, a one and a half story house with attached tower. Due to multiple extensions of the north pier, it eventually became obsolete. The home still stands today, but the lantern and deck were removed and the tower was retrofitted with a peaked roof. It is currently part of the Coast Guard Station at Pugh Marina.

In 1901 when the north pier reached a length of 1,700 feet, a red, ½ skeletal-½ enclosed steel tower was erected and still stands as a historic city structure, the Racine North Breakwater Lighthouse. This red, 53-feet tall, tower guided ships until 1987 and was saved from demolition by the community of Racine. It is now open to the public to climb the staircase and peer in the body of the lighthouse.

As you gaze at the red tower from the Reef Point Marina Park, you can see large concrete boulders that surround it. People-watching is fun to do as you watch them climb around the boulders or walk along the steel frame.

Also from this location with my camera lens zoomed out to the max, you can see the Wind Point Lighthouse in the background and the Racine Reef Light out in the distance of the lake. In fact one of my favorite pictures from that trip is one with Racine North Breakwater Lighthouse in the forefront and the Wind Point Lighthouse in the background – two for one.

Racine Reef Light

The Two For One Picture; Look Closely

Cruising over to Wind Point takes only 10 minutes or less. As you drive up you see several white-sided, red-roofed buildings with a white tower dwarfing all of them. The Wind Point Lighthouse stands an impressive 108 feet tall (second tallest Wisconsin lighthouse on Lake Michigan) and was completed in 1880. 

The grounds surrounding the lighthouse are beautifully kept with gardens, trees, benches, and walking paths. Choose to relax on a bench surrounded by black-eyed Susans or walk down to the beach while listening to the waves crash on the shore. I personally did both, and could have spent all day there, basking in the shadows of the majestic tower.

On select days in the summer, you are invited to tour and climb tower, only 144 steps on a spiral staircase. I was not able to take on that challenge the day I visited; one more item added to the bucket list. Also, when you visit the grounds of the Wind Point Lighthouse you will notice plaques and signs stating, “Police Station” and “Village Hall.” Not a bad place for the Village of Wind Point to conduct business.

This concludes the tales from my trip to Racine and Kenosha and the southern tip of Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coast. Following the American Cancer Society Relay For Life season, I journeyed to the central part of Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coast and visited the lighthouses in Port Washington, Grafton and Milwaukee. So more stories to come! Until next time, take care and talk to you soon!