Mornin' to all the ‘Sconnie volunteers helping to search for invasive species. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

What we’re lighting up about this week:

• Wisconsin’s affinity for lighthouses ⚓️

• Piping plover chicks 🐔 

• Adaptive wheelchair donation ❤️

Wisconsin’s Affinity For Lighthouses

Way back when, before Wisconsin was known for its waterparks, Tater Tot Casserole, and seemingly unlimited supply of beer, there was another reason to grace our state:

Maritime shipping.

As the Great Lakes became an efficient means of transportation, water faring vessels needed help getting to and from shore safely. Thus, our lighthouses were born.

The Land Ho-ing high points:

• Wisconsin boasts more than 50 lighthouses across the state

• Once vital navigational tools to ensure the safety of Great Lakes vessels

• The first lighthouse was built on Rock Island in 1836

A De-Lightful History

As Wisconsin’s economy picked up in the 1800’s, we became a destination for all sorts of trading via the Great Lakes.

To help ships navigate the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River (as well as protect our shoreline from shipwrecks), lighthouses were constructed.

Before GPS, ships would rely on the lighthouse to guide them around shallow shoals and rocky shores.

The first lighthouse was built on Rock Island in 1836, called the Pottawatomie Lighthouse. It’s steady white light could be seen from 14 nautical miles!

All in all, 50+ lighthouses were built, many of which along Lake Michigan and dating back to the 1800s.

Though some are still in operation today, many remain as reminders of our state’s important maritime history (and the perils of sailing across our state’s waters, like Death’s Door).

The Lighthouse Keeper

Just how we need bartenders to man the kegs and farmers to man the, umm, utters, we needed keepers to man the lighthouses.

These brave souls were technically employees of the United States Lighthouse Service, founded in 1789.

It was the first Public Works Act of the first US Congress, authorizing the transfer of existing lighthouses from control of the states to the federal government.

Though it wasn’t a 24-hour job as depicted by pop culture, it was damn near close.

Keepers would start before dawn and work well past dusk, operating the light according to daily schedules, making repairs, and even responding to shipwrecks.

Though most lighthouses were automated in the 1900s, one east coast lighthouse remains manned by law: The Boston Light.

How To Get Out ‘Der

Many of the state’s lighthouses are open for tours, but there’s a few you’ll want to put on your radar.

• Pottawatomie Light of Rock Island: Wisconsin’s oldest lighthouse!

• Wind Point Lighthouse: At one point the tallest lighthouse on the Great Lakes and today on the National Register of Historic Places

• Cana Island Lighthouse: The most iconic, photographed, and arguable unique lighthouse in Wisconsin

Want to get a bird’s eye view of Wisconsin’s lighthouses? Check out this sweet map.

Or, if you’re looking for some light reading (get it), this book is pretty nifty: Wisconsin Lighthouses: A Photographic and Historical Guide.

Of course, you could just pop the recliner, grab a bowl of custard, and watch this video on Door County Lighthouses.

Now get out ‘der!

Other great Wiscampsin reads…

Wisconsin Fish Fry's

Wisconsin's Rustic Roads

Sailing through Death's Door

Shop Wiscampsin

Wisconsin State Bird Art Print: “Very nicely made, great colors and design. It looks amazing in my home. Keep it up Wiscampsin ❤️” - Peggy

Wiscampsin Badgers Tee: “It’s the perfect t-shirt to show off my love for camping and Wisconsin at the same time :)” - Emily

Wiscampsin Recycled License Plate Frame: “Love it! Get out der! Makes my Mazda look even better” - Alex

Wiscampsin Mug: “Awesome mug, very lightweight, the mug doesn't get piping hot if you need to microwave your coffee either.” - Matthew

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Well 79% of you have never come across a wolf in Wisconsin… all while 1% of you come across them a few times a month…

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🐔 We Love Chicks: In mid-July, a number of agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released four captive-born piping plover chicks in the Lower Green Bay’s Cat Island Restoration site. This marks the most pairs released since the birds addition to the endangered species list in 1984.

♿️ All Bodies Outdoors: Thanks to an especially heart-warming donation by local business Kinect M1, Peninsula State Park now has an all-terrain wheelchair that folks can loan out—for free—to get out ‘der. Peninsula is fast becoming one of the most accessible state parks in the Midwest. How badass?

🦌 Make Room In Da Freezer: Starting August 14th, hunters can snag a bonus antlerless tag until they run out or the end of the 2023 season. Bonus “authorizations” (formerly and rightly known as “tags”) are $12 each for Wisconsin residents, $20 each for non-residents and $5 each for youth ages 11 and under.

🤫 _{How we score last minute campsite reservations}

“No reservations available.” It’s almost as bad as hearing “ice cream machine is broken.”

But there’s an insanely simple way you can book campground reservations last minute, without sitting on your computer all night.

Campnab texts you the second sold-out campgrounds become available, so you can reserve hard-to-book campsites with ease.

Our secret weapon for last-minute booking:

1. Just drop in your phone number

2. Pick your favorite campsites or State Parks

3. Get a text as soon as a canceled reservation opens up

Don’t just take our word for it–Campnab is so nifty, it’s been featured on Outside Online, Trip Savvy, RV Travel, and more.

Sign up for Campnab and get text alerts at your fav campsites this summer!

Want to sponsor the Wiscampsin Weekly?

Reply “Sponsor” and we will get back to you with the details!

Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… Cripes, the way news is meant to be, eh?