Asylum Light, Lighthouse on Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Asylum Light is a lighthouse on a small island in Asylum Bay on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. The 30 foot tall structure marks the boundary between the bay's northern and southern sections and serves as a visual reference point for water navigation.
The lighthouse was built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration near a psychiatric hospital that opened in 1871. The two structures came into being during different eras, with the lighthouse added later as supporting infrastructure for the waterway.
The name change from Northern Asylum to Winnebago Mental Health Institute demonstrates the evolution of mental health treatment approaches in Wisconsin.
The location is reachable from Highway 76 by heading east on Snell Road toward Sherman Road. Since it sits on an island, getting close requires water access, so viewing it from the shoreline or by boat works best for most visitors.
Though designed as a navigation aid, the Department of Transportation never approved it for operation on the lake. This makes it an odd relic from the Depression era that never served its intended purpose.
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