Is the Manitowoc lighthouse open to the public? Did anyone live in it? Here are 10 things you may not know.

MANITOWOC – The Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse is an oft-photographed and well-recognized beacon along the city’s skyline on Lake Michigan.

But it's much more than a pretty photo op. And since Aug. 7 is National Lighthouse Day, we thought we’d celebrate the treasured structure by shedding some light on Manitowoc’s recently restored contribution to Wisconsin’s maritime and lighthouse history.

Here are 10 things you may not have known about the lighthouse.

1. It's not Manitowoc's first lighthouse.

Manitowoc’s first lighthouse was established in 1839. In 1840, a brick structure located at the corner of Fifth and York streets was built on a hill near the mouth of the Manitowoc River.

2. The current lighthouse dates to 1918.

The current lighthouse was built in 1918 at the end of a long breakwater and was owned by the U.S. Coast Guard for many years.

3. The keepers did not live in the lighthouse.

Lighthouse keepers did not live in the structure. They lived in a brick house still owned by the Coast Guard on the shore. The building consisted of three apartments for the keepers, their families and assistants to live.

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4. Early keepers carried buckets of kerosene up and down the the stairs several times a day.

In the early years, the lighthouse lamp was lighted by kerosene and keepers carried the fuel in buckets down the breakwater and up the lighthouse stairs several times a day.

There was an elevated catwalk that led from the keeper's quarters to the lighthouse so men could get fuel to the lamp in winter when the breakwater was covered in ice.

5. The lighthouse is a five-story building.

The lighthouse starts with a basement, with an engine/motor room on the next story.

The third story is a watch room, the nicest room in the lighthouse, according to Paul Roekle of the Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary Club.

“It has a table, chairs and desks,” said Roekle, who runs tours of the lighthouse. “It has beautiful wood floors.”

The fourth floor houses the foghorn, and the top floor encases the lighthouse lens.

6. Automation led to abandonment and disrepair.

The light was automated in the 1970s and the lighthouse was abandoned. It fell into disrepair and was often vandalized.

7. A New York businessman now owns the lighthouse, fulfilling a childhood dream.

New York businessman Phil Carlucci bought the lighthouse in 2011 for $30,000 when he was the successful bidder after the U.S. Coast Guard put the structure on its “excess list.”

Carlucci spent $325,000 renovating the lighthouse, with the goal of opening it up to the public.

The Coast Guard still owns and maintains the working light. The project fits into Carlucci’s lifelong love of lighthouses.

“One of my childhood dreams was to own a lighthouse,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed going to visit them, I was so glad to buy one and to be able to restore it and share it with the community.”

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8. The lighthouse still plays a key role in today's maritime economy.

The lighthouse continues to play a role in Manitowoc’s maritime economy, even as technology in ships makes the navigational light less necessary.

Companies such as Broadwind, Briess Malt & Ingredients and Eden Valders Stone continue to ship products out through Manitowoc’s port, Roekle noted.

9. Sunrise Rotary Club is the official Lighthouse Keeper.

The Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary Club is the recognized Lighthouse Keeper for the lighthouse.

The club's members check, clean and offer tours of the building.

They also work with sponsors and donors to raise funds to offer the tours and expand educational projects throughout the community.

10. Public tours of the lighthouse are offered on occasion or private tours can be arranged.

The building is occasionally open to the public, or you can schedule a private tour by visiting https://www.manitowocsunriserotary.org/page/lighthouse.

The Rotary Club is searching for photos of the building's interior from the early 1900s with hopes of restoring and furnishing the rooms with historical accuracy.

Got a tip, comment or question for reporter Patti Zarling? Contact her at pzarling@gannett.com or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on Twitter @PGPattiZarling.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc lighthouse: Is it open to the public? Did anyone live in it?