The spectacular lighthouses of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore are featured in a new PBS Wisconsin program entitled “Wisconsin Lighthouses,” to be televised statewide for the first time on December 2nd at 7 p.m. Invited guests, including two Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore board members and family members attended a premiere screening and related events in Manitowoc on November 14th.

PBS Wisconsin says, “Since the mid-19th century, our state’s lighthouses have guided generations of mariners to safe harbors. Wisconsin Lighthouses” illuminates the power and appeal of these iconic structures. This program explores their history, idyllic settings, unique architecture, and the light they shine on a bygone era.”

A crowd of invited guests filled the Capitol Civic Centre theater to be the first to see it.

Capitol Civic Centre theater – Neil Howk photo

Documentary writer/producer Jeff Pfeiffer worked on the program. He says in a Q and A on the PBS Wisconsin website that he was able to scout some of the state’s more accessible lighthouses ahead of time, but that wasn’t the case for the Apostle Islands. He says he was surprised at how remote the Apostle Islands are. “At times, we were helped by the National Park Service,” he says. “At times, we received help from private individuals who were just happy to lend us their private boat as long as we had a competent captain. One time, we contracted with an Apostle Islands water taxi service.”

Mark Weller, Jeff Pfeiffer and Neil Howk

Howk says, “the “experts” that they use to tell those stories are Ken and Barb Wardius (authors of the book Wisconsin Lighthouses), retired Apostle Islands National Lakeshore historian Bob Mackreth, and me.” (Editor’s note: Neil is a retired park ranger.) “We were very excited about how much time was spent on the Apostle lights. They even used some footage from when the Raspberry Light reopened in 2007 after almost two years of restoration work.”

Weller says the documentary was beautifully shot and that Neil did a great job on camera. He says, “We are fortunate that PBS Wisconsin recognizes the significance of the history of lighthouses and the role they play in Wisconsin.” Weller says he hopes exposing a statewide audience to the Apostle islands lights will encourage more people to discover the national lakeshore and in turn will generate more support for the important work of Friends.

Before the show, invited guests attended a VIP reception at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. There you can see the new exhibit featuring the 4th order Fresnel lens from the Manitowoc North Breakwater Lighthouse. It’s the same size as the lens used in the Sand Island lighthouse.

Forrest and Neil Howk with Fresnel lens

Following the film, organizers held a panel discussion titled “Bringing Wisconsin’s Lighthouse History to Life.” The panelists showcased innovative ways people in Wisconsin are telling our state’s rich lighthouse history, through film, immersive storytelling and state-of-the-art technology. As an example of online storytelling, PBS Wisconsin offers an interactive virtual tour of the Cana Island lighthouse on their website. You can also find several short documentaries, including “Keeper of the Light,” produced by Weller when he worked for Wisconsin public television, as well as “Gert Wellisch: Savior of Sand Island Lighthouse.”

Panel discussion following the show – Neil Howk photo

Documentary producer Pfeiffer has been with PBS Wisconsin for two years and has nearly 20 years of experience in documentary television and filmmaking. He says of our Wisconsin lighthouses, “these are wonderful treasures that tell the story of how we got to where we are today. I want people to walk away with a deeper appreciation of not only the lighthouses, but also an appreciation of the sacrifices that the keepers and their families made. It’s really remarkable. If there is a lighthouse near you, go visit it!” You can watch Wisconsin Lighthouses on your local PBS Wisconsin television station on December 2nd at 7 p.m.