National Park Service to Deconstruct Chequamegon Point Light Due to Structural Failure

BAYFIELD, WI – Apostle Islands National Lakeshore plans to dismantle and remove the historic Chequamegon Point Light Tower on Long Island in summer 2026. The National Park Service (NPS) announced the deteriorating 42-foot tower can no longer be preserved in place. Shoreline erosion and storm damage have caused significant structural failures, including failing footings, severed anchors, and damaged structural braces. The tower poses an imminent safety risk. If not addressed, it threatens to collapse into Lake Superior.

“Protecting public safety and preserving the integrity of our maritime heritage are core responsibilities,” said Superintendent BriAnna Weldon. “Unfortunately, the Chequamegon Point Light Tower has reached a point where in-place preservation is no longer feasible. Deconstruction is the safest and most responsible path forward.”

Erected in 1897, the Chequamegon Point Light Tower was part of a network of navigational aids along the southern shore of Lake Superior. Part of the historic Long Island Light Station complex, the tower marked the entrance to Chequamegon Bay. In 1987 the tower was moved 100 feet east to its current location due to shoreline change. Over time, many of its character- defining features were removed. Only the exposed steel lattice frame and lantern room remain today.

The National Park Service, in consultation with the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), evaluated the tower under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. While not individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the tower is a contributing feature to the Long Island Light Station historic district.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore News Release