Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Restoration Nears Completion — Final Push for Community Support

Fish Creek, Wis. (April 28, 2025) —The Door County Historical Society is proud to share significant progress in its multi-phase restoration and reconstruction project at Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park. As we near our $2 million fundraising goal—with $1.6 million already raised—we are calling on the community to help us cross the finish line and preserve this irreplaceable piece of Door County’s history.

The first phase of restoration, completed in 2024, focused on critical structural stabilization. This included complete repair of the lantern room and tower staircase, repairing the original ventilation systems, and replacing and repairing deteriorating exterior brick. With these urgent repairs behind us, the project has now moved into its next stage: restoring the interior of the lighthouse and reconstructing lost historic outbuildings.

Current work includes detailed interior restoration of the keeper’s residence and the lighthouse tower, with a focus on returning these spaces to their appearance during the Duclon family’s tenure (1883–1918). Skilled craftspeople are restoring original woodwork, repainting walls based on historical color analysis, and repairing plaster throughout the building. Work is also underway to restore the original windows, many of which had suffered from years of exposure to the elements.

In addition to the lighthouse itself, restoration is now underway on the site’s privy and historic oil house—two essential support structures that reflect the daily operations of the lighthouse. Reconstruction of the barn and summer kitchen is also progressing, with foundation work complete and framing in motion. These outbuildings once supported the daily rhythms of lighthouse life, from food preparation to livestock care and firewood storage.

“This project is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Amy Frank, Executive Director of the Door County Historical Society. “It’s about restoring a site that tells the story of the people who kept our waters safe, of family life in isolation, and of the ingenuity required to live and work in a remote setting. By rebuilding what was lost, we’re not only preserving the past—we’re giving future generations the opportunity to experience and learn from it.”

Restoring the lighthouse and its outbuildings allows for a fuller, more authentic interpretation of life at Eagle Bluff. By recreating the physical environment in which the Duclon family lived and worked, the Historical Society can offer visitors a more immersive and meaningful experience—connecting them with the human stories that define Door County’s maritime past.

Visitors will have the opportunity to witness this historic transformation firsthand when Eagle Bluff Lighthouse reopens for the 2025 season on May 23. Guided tours will include updates on restoration progress, providing a rare behind-the-scenes look at how history is brought back to life.

Now is the time to get involved. Every gift brings us one step closer to fully restoring Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and ensuring its legacy lives on for generations to come. To make a donation or learn more about the project including a blog that chronicles the daily progress, please visit https://doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org/eagle-bluff-lighthouse/.