Pilot Island Lighthouse

Standing alone in the treacherous waters of Death’s Door, Pilot Island Lighthouse has long been a silent witness to one of the most dangerous passages in the Great Lakes. Built in 1858, the lighthouse was meant to guide mariners safely through the narrow strait between the Door Peninsula and Washington Island, a stretch of water notorious for shipwrecks. The origins of the name “Death’s Door” remain uncertain—some stories trace it to a deadly battle between rival Native American tribes, while others suggest it comes from the high number of vessels lost to the unpredictable currents and hidden shoals. Regardless of its true source, the name is well earned. Shifting winds, sudden storms, and powerful waves have turned this passage into a graveyard for countless ships, making Pilot Island an essential beacon for those who dared to navigate these waters.

Life on Pilot Island was one of hardship and isolation. Lighthouse keepers and their families endured bitter winters, relentless winds, and weeks of solitude. Supply runs were infrequent, and rescue attempts often came too late for ships that found themselves at the mercy of the strait. The wreck of the A.P. Nichols in 1892 is one of many tragedies that played out in view of the lighthouse—its remains still resting beneath the surface. Despite these dangers, the strait remained a crucial shipping route, and the keepers of Pilot Island stood watch for over a century, maintaining the beacon that helped countless mariners avoid disaster. When the lighthouse was decommissioned in the 1960s, the island was left to the elements, its structures slowly succumbing to decay.

Today, Pilot Island is at the center of ongoing restoration efforts led by the Friends of Plum and Pilot Island. However, reclaiming the island from the forces of nature is no small task. Over the decades, large colonies of double-crested cormorants and herring gulls have taken over, their acidic droppings killing nearly all vegetation and bleaching the island’s rocky terrain. Once-thriving trees now stand as skeletal remains, their branches crowded with nesting birds. The ecosystem has further shifted with the presence of northern water snakes, which thrive in the absence of natural predators, slithering among the ruins in search of fish and eggs.

Despite these challenges, conservationists and volunteers continue their work, stabilizing the lighthouse and preserving what remains of this historic landmark. Though Pilot Island may never return to what it once was, efforts to protect its structures and its past ensure that it remains more than just a crumbling relic. It is a testament to the resilience of those who braved Death’s Door, both on the water and within the lighthouse walls.

All prints are of museum quality and printed in The USA. Canvas Prints are wrapped around a hardwood frame to prevent long-term wrapping and utilize a 0.75" thick wrap. Metal Prints are glossy, vibrant, and of course are ready to hang.  These prints make a statement and bring Door County home to your wall.