The tower features 97 iron steps that visitors climb to reach the gallery deck.
The lighthouse was converted from oil-burning lamps to electricity in 1944.
Its third-order Fresnel lens was manufactured in France and remains one of the few still in operational use in the Great Lakes.
The island's causeway can be completely submerged by Lake Michigan waves, necessitating transport by a tractor-pulled wagon during high water periods.
The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Cana Island Lighthouse is a functioning 89-foot light station situated on a small limestone island in Lake Michigan. Established in 1869, the lighthouse features a distinctive cream-colored brick tower and original keeper's quarters preserved by the Door County Maritime Museum. Visitors access the island by walking across a low-lying, water-covered causeway from the Baileys Harbor mainland. The tower contains an original 1902 third-order Fresnel lens, which was restored to working condition for educational demonstrations. The site includes a reconstructed oil house and a barn that serves as a gift shop and historical exhibit space. It remains an active navigational aid maintained by the United States Coast Guard.
The view from the top gallery deck looking back toward the mainland across Lake Michigan.
Wear water-appropriate footwear as the causeway walk often involves shallow water over rocks.
Check the daily water levels and tractor shuttle status before arrival if you prefer not to wade.
Bring a light jacket, as temperatures are consistently lower near the exposed shoreline compared to the mainland.
Attempting the causeway walk in thin flip-flops, as the rocks are uneven and slippery.
Open seasonally from May through October; closed during the winter months.
Closed-toe shoes are recommended for the climb; maintain distance from the active US Coast Guard automated equipment.
