Replica lighthouse skiff now on display at Raspberry Island Light Station

September 29, 2021

The Lightkeeper’s Tender “Don A” is now on display in the Fog Signal Building at the Raspberry island Light Station.

Over many years, volunteers at the Bayfield Maritime Museum poured countless hours of work into building the 16-foot-long wooden boat. The Don A bears the name of former museum president Don Albrecht, who came up with the idea of building the replica skiff.

In late June, volunteer rowers completed a ceremonial maiden voyage between the mainland and Raspberry Island. Watch a music video featuring images from that journey below.

The National Park Service recently transported the skiff back to Raspberry island by boat and used the rail and winch system to haul it up the steep stairs leading to the lighthouse.

The Don A being transported to Raspberry Island

The Don A being transported to Raspberry Island (NPS Photo)

The Don A being transported to the lighthouse
The Don A being transported to the lighthouse (NPS photo)

The boat is now on loan to the National Park Service for display on Raspberry Island. Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and other donors supported this project financially. We hope visitors enjoy seeing this fine vessel and imagining how lighthouse keepers might have rowed a boat like it between the islands and the mainland.

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