Lighthouse Fog Signal Demonstrations - 3pm
Fri, Jun 06
|Kewaunee Harbor Park
From cannons, to whistles, sirens, and the diaphone fog horn, learn about the evolution and operation of these signals for lighthouse use and HEAR each for yourself!
Time & Location
Jun 06, 2025, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Kewaunee Harbor Park, 212 Harrison St, Kewaunee, WI 54216, USA
About the event
When fog or poor weather moves in and blocks out the light from the lighthouse, sailors relied on sound signals to help them determine their location on the water. Learn how the evolution of these sound signals happened from gunpowder, to steam, to compressed air, and now electricity.
The highlight of the presentation will be the DEMONSTRATION of each signal! HEAR a cannon's roar, a steam whistle's melodic tone, and the sharp honk of a diaphone horn. Don't know what a diaphone is? You will!
Local history buff Jake Heffernan of the Kewaunee Lighthouse will walk us through this journey, using a portable compressed air system which powers a 5" diameter steam whistle and a small "diaphone" horn. A small (3/4" bore) cannon is used to demonstrate the fog cannon. As a special feature and to demonstrate the further evolution of horns, the diaphragm horns aboard the museum tug LUDINGTON will…