The Beacon Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

Wis Kid: As there's been no cache to find for months, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

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Hidden : 6/7/2010
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This Traditional Cache is located near the historic Pottawatomie Lighthouse on Rock Island.

Explorers who go off the beaten path will be rewarded with a special treat. Just North of the lighthouse is a sharp drop off with a small clearing down below. This offers a great view of the lighthouse that is passed up by many.

No need to break out climbing gear to get here. Instead, start at the lighthouse and look for a trail leading down the cliff side. On your way down, keep an eye out for a shallow cave carved into the cliff side. Also, see if you can spot an ancient telephone poll amidst the trees that line the path. This pole is one of the only remaining traces of the first emergency phone line that connected the lighthouse to the outside world at the turn of the century.

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When built in 1836, Rock Island's Pottawatomie Light became the first federal light in Wisconsin on Lake Michigan.

The original 1836 Rock Island Lighthouse, a 34 x 20 foot residence, had a separate grey conical 30-foot high tower. The 11-foot diameter round conical-shaped lantern held a Winslow Patent designed lens with 11 oil lamps and 11 14-inch reflectors. The light itself was 159 feet or 48 meters above the water.

The present lighthouse on Pottawatomie Point replaced the original in 1858. It's mortar caused the original building and tower to be damaged. The new 33' x 31' dwelling built of quarried dolomite enclosed a 8' x 8' tower which held a nine-sided lantern with lamp using a 4th order Fresnel lens. The lamp produced a steady white light visible for 14 nautical miles.

The U.S. Coast Guard took command of lighthouses in 1944, automating Pottawatomie Lighthouse in 1945 with a battery-powered flashing beacon. In 1986 solar panels installed readied the relocation of the light fixture in July 1988 to the steel light tower west of Pottawatomie Lighthouse.

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Please no toys or junk swag unless they relate to the Lighthouse theme in order to keep from cluttering up the cache. I've started this cache out with a lighthouse travel bug, please trade evenly so this cache stays fun for all.

A Pottawatomie Lighthouse keychain awaits the FTF.

The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Kirby Foss of the Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form.

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Congratulations to Northwoods Tom on FTF!

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