The "Devils Island Light Station Cultural Landscape" was included as one of five lighthouses (with state-level significance)[A] in the National Register of Historic Places nomination on March 8, 1977.[11] It occupies approximately 16 acres (6.5 ha) on the north lakeshore of the 318 acres (129 ha) Devils Island. Within are several structures. A previous skeletal, wooden structure was constructed in 1891 has since been demolished. Historical brick Queen Anne style keepers quarters (1896) are collocated with the current lighthouse. Also on the premises were two oil houses, a tramway, a brownstone tramway engine building, a dock, woodenboathouse (1 mile distant) and a radio beacon/tower.[12] An inclined Tramway (1893) and Engine Building (1901) provided transport of equipment, gear and supplies.[11]
The original third order Fresnel lens manufactured by Henry-Lepaute was removed by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1989, but a new third order Fresnel lens was replaced by the N.P.S. in 1992.[12]
The site originally had a 10-inch (250 mm) steam whistle in a fog signal building. That was removed in 1925, and "a much improved air-operated diaphone fog signal" was accomplished. In 1928, a diesel-powered electrical generator was installed, and the light intensity increased to 300,000 candela for the white flash and 180,000 candela for the red.[13]
Most of the Apostle Islands Lighthouses may be reached on the Apostle Islands Cruise Service[15] water taxi or by private boat during the summer. During the Annual Apostle Island Lighthouse Celebration[16] ferry tour service is available for all the lighthouses. In the tourist season, volunteer park rangers are on many of the islands to greet visitors.[10]
Devils Island Light Station. (January 1999) Lighthouse Digest, pp. 14–15.
Havighurst, Walter (1943) The Long Ships Passing: The Story of the Great Lakes, Macmillan Publishers.
Oleszewski, Wes (1998) Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc.) ISBN0-932212-98-0.
