Decked out with holiday lighting and topped off with Rudolph on the lantern room, this Fond du Lac landmark puts residents in a festive mood. Thanks to Rudolph’s red nose, all boats receive special attention when motoring in and out of the harbor entrance.
     Fond du Lac has thoroughly embraced this octagon lighthouse, seen all over town on billboards, advertisements and road signs. The 40 foot tower, a focal point at Lake Winnebago’s Lakeside Park, was built during the Depression Era. With unemployment approaching a quarter of the workforce, the lighthouse project was a boost for the local economy. Built on a stone foundation, the frame construction tower included an interior staircase that leads to an observation deck. The deck overlooks Lakeside Park, the harbor entrance, and the bustle of the yacht club. After years of neglect, instead of being scrapped, lighthouse restoration became a community project. Saved in 1966, the lighthouse received further attention in 1993, and still paints a beautiful Wisconsin winter scene.