Sea Caves & Lighthouses

Lake Superior Natural Beauty & History in Northern Wisconsin

Apostle Islands Sea Caves

Sea caves on Devils Island with the Light Tower in the distance

Centuries of wave action, freezing, and thawing have sculpted shorelines throughout Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Some of the Great Lakes' most spectacular scenery occurs where these forces interact with sandstone of the Devils Island Formation to create extensive sea caves. Nature has carved delicate arches, vaulted chambers, and honeycombed passageways into cliffs on the north shore of Devils Island, Swallow Point on Sand Island, and along the mainland near the Lakeshore's western boundary. People come to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in summer and winter to visit the sea caves and witness Lake Superior's ever-changing handiwork.

In summer, the sea caves are best seen by boat. Apostle Islands Cruises offers daily trips past the Devils Island sea caves from late May through the middle of October.

Apostle Islands Lighthouses

	OLD MICHIGAN ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE Built 1856 Placed in service 1857 Abandoned 1858 Re-lit 1869 Retired 1929 Guided tours available
	NEW MICHIGAN ISLAND LIGHT TOWER Built in Pennsylvania 1880 Dismantled 1918 Re-erected on Michigan Island 1929 Automated 1943 Still in service, guided tours available
	RASPBERRY ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE Built 1862 Placed in service 1863 Enlarged 1906 Automated 1947 Light moved outside building 1957 Guided tours available Shuttle boat schedule
	OUTER ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE Built 1874 Automated 1961 Temporarily closed to public access due to construction activity
	DEVILS ISLAND LIGHT TOWER Temporary tower built 1891 Permanent tower built 1898 Permanent tower placed in service 1901 External braces added 1914 Automated 1978 Lens removed 1989 Lens replaced 1992 Still in service
	SAND ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE Built 1881 Automated 1921 Light moved to steel tower c.1933 Light moved back to lighthouse 1985 Still in service, guided tours available
	LAPOINTE LIGHTHOUSE, LONG ISLAND Built 1897 Automated 1964 Still in service, not open to public
	CHEQUAMEGON POINT LIGHT TOWER, LONG ISLAND Built 1897 Retired and moved 1987 Preserved, not open to public