One Of Wisconsin’s Most Historic Lighthouses Is Now Better Than Ever

Door County, located in northeastern Wisconsin, has long been one of the state's most beloved summer destinations, drawing visitors with its shoreline views, cherry orchards, waterfront villages, and historic lighthouses dotting the peninsula from stem to stern.

Of those lighthouses, few carry more history or charm than the Eagle Bluff Light Station, which sits within Peninsula State Park near Fish Creek. For more than 150 years, it has been one of the most visited and photographed spots in all of Door County.

For a stretch of decades beginning in 1883, it was also home to lighthouse keeper William Duclon, his wife Julia, and their seven sons, a family who lived and worked at the station year-round, keeping the light burning through every Wisconsin winter the lake could throw at them.

Recently, the light station underwent an extensive restoration, which has now reached the finish line, and a grand opening celebration has been planned.

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Two Years of Restoration Work Now Complete

The Eagle Bluff Light Station recently completed an extensive two-year restoration project led by the Door County Historical Society.

The project restored the historic lighthouse tower, the keeper's residence, the oil house, and the privy, and it went a step further by reconstructing the barn and summer kitchen that had been lost over time, returning the entire site to its appearance during the Duclon family era.

A reconstructed barn now serves as the new welcome center, offering more space and a more comfortable visitor experience than before.

"Restoring Eagle Bluff Light Station was about more than preserving buildings — it was about preserving stories," said Amy Frank, Executive Director of the Door County Historical Society.

Frank added that focusing on the Duclon family era allowed history to be brought to life in a "meaningful and immersive" way that shows why it matters in the history of Door County.

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Visitors will now be able to see the lighthouse while also gaining an understanding of what it meant to live and work there.

Grand Opening Celebration Set For June 26

The Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is already open for the 2026 season and is welcoming visitors daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, but the grand opening celebration is the official capstone on a restoration that has been more than two years in the making

The Grand Opening Celebration will take place Friday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a formal presentation at 11 a.m. recognizing the donors, volunteers, and skilled workers who made the restoration possible.

Activities throughout the day, designed for all ages, include:

• Free lighthouse tours
• Live music
• Games and family-friendly activities
• Book signings
• Demonstrations and exhibits
• And more surprises still to come

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It'll definitely be a strong option for a summer family outing in one of Wisconsin's most scenic corners.