North Point Lighthouse: History & Visitor Guide

North Point’s white lighthouse tower and red-roofed keeper’s house in Lake Park — The white tower and Queen Anne-style keeper’s house at North Point. Photograph by Todd.

North Point tells a story of adaptation. Its beacon first served Milwaukee in 1855, moved inland as the bluff eroded, and rose higher as surrounding trees began to hide the light. Today, the white octagonal tower and red-roofed keeper’s house preserve that history within Lake Park, welcoming visitors as a museum rather than a working navigational station.

Quick Facts

Location	2650 North Wahl Avenue, Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
Station established	1855
Present tower	Completed in 1887; first lit January 10, 1888
Height / construction	74 feet; octagonal cast-iron tower raised on a steel base in 1912
Keeper’s house	Queen Anne-style dwelling, built by 1888
Historic optics	Fourth-order Fresnel lens
Status	Decommissioned in 1994; restored museum and public tower attraction
Ownership / care	Milwaukee County; operated by North Point Lighthouse Friends

History & Description

The first North Point light began operating in 1855 from a Cream City brick building on the bluff. It marked the northern point of Milwaukee Bay for vessels approaching a growing port. Shore erosion eventually threatened the site, prompting construction of a replacement roughly 100 feet inland.

The new cast-iron tower and keeper’s house were completed by 1888. Initially only 39 feet tall, the eight-sided tower stood amid a landscape soon incorporated into Frederick Law Olmsted’s Lake Park. Trees eventually obscured its signal. In 1912, a new steel base lifted the existing iron tower to its present 74-foot height—a practical alteration still visible in the change between its lower and upper sections.

The dwelling gives the station its domestic character: white siding, steep red roofs, and welcoming porches sit beside the working tower. It was a home as well as a place of duty. Georgia Stebbins, officially appointed keeper in 1881, served until 1907. Her responsibilities included tending the lamp, caring for the buildings, and recording weather and vessel activity.

The Coast Guard automated the light in 1943 and took it out of service in 1994. Preservation then became its new purpose. Milwaukee County acquired the property in 2003, and restoration led by the county and North Point Lighthouse Friends returned the station to public use in 2007.

Today, museum exhibits interpret Great Lakes navigation and the people who kept the lights. The former keeper’s house and restored tower make the station’s history tangible, while Lake Park’s gardens, ravines, and nearby lion bridges give the visit a setting shaped by both maritime work and landscape design.

Historical references: Museum history · U.S. Coast Guard history · Georgia Stebbins · Wisconsin DNR restoration account.

Visitor Information

North Point is a museum visit in a park setting. Allow time for the exhibits and tower, then explore the nearby paths and lion bridges. Arriving during public opening hours makes the difference between exterior photographs and a look inside the station.

Public hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 1–4 p.m., throughout the year, with selected closure dates. Check the official schedule before traveling.
Admission: Adults $8; adults 65+ with ID, students with ID, and children ages 5–11, $5. Active military and children 4 and under enter free.
Tickets & tours: Pay at the door during public hours; advance reservations are not needed for regular visits. Group tours require arrangements with the museum.
Tower & accessibility: The museum is accessible; reaching the top of the tower requires a climb. Contact staff about mobility needs or current climbing requirements before your visit.
Parking: Use Wahl Avenue and surrounding streets, following posted signs. The small on-site lot is reserved for accessible parking. The Lake Park Bistro county lot, one block north off Newberry Boulevard, is another option for larger events.
What to see: The keeper’s house museum, maritime exhibits, and tower views over Lake Michigan and the surrounding park. The landscaped grounds provide several exterior photo angles.
Allow time: Plan about 45–60 minutes for the museum and tower, with extra time for a Lake Park walk or photography.
Contact: 414-332-6754 · keeper@northpointlighthouse.org

Visitor details checked October 8, 2026. Confirm fees and closure dates on the official hours and admission page; consult the museum’s directions and parking information before arriving.

Photo Gallery

Original photographs from Todd’s North Point visit. Select a photograph to view it larger.

White North Point Lighthouse and red-roofed keeper’s house beneath a cloudy blue sky — The 74-foot tower and keeper’s house form the centerpiece of the restored station.

North Point Lighthouse Museum welcome sign with the lighthouse across the lawn — The museum sign marks a garden-lined approach from Lake Park.

North Point Lighthouse and keeper’s house seen across the landscaped grounds — A broad view of the light station from Todd’s original blog entry.

North Point Light Station historical marker beside the white tower — The Wisconsin historical marker traces the station’s relocation, enlargement, and preservation.

Low-angle view of North Point Lighthouse’s white octagonal tower against the sky — The tower’s taper, windows, and lantern seen from the grounds.

North Point Lighthouse tower above the keeper’s house porch and front steps — The porch and connecting building recall the station’s combined life as a home and workplace.

Stone lion sculpture beside a balustraded bridge in Milwaukee’s Lake Park — One of Lake Park’s stone lions stands near the lighthouse approach.

North Point Lighthouse Our Story interpretive panel mounted on white siding — The “Our Story” panel explains the station’s development.

Rear view of North Point’s white keeper’s house with a red roof and the tower beyond — The keeper’s house from the garden side, with the lantern rising behind its roof.

Wide view of North Point Lighthouse and keeper’s house from a brick path — Another angle pairs the tower with its red-roofed dwelling and park setting.

Weathered wooden garden shed surrounded by climbing vines and shrubs — A vine-covered shed adds a quiet garden detail to the station grounds.

North Point in the Travel Journal

Todd arrived at 11 a.m., before the museum opened, and spent about fifteen minutes photographing the tower, keeper’s house, and grounds. Read the firsthand account of this Milwaukee stop.

Read the North Point blog entry →