Lighthouses of the United States: Ohio

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states and a capital district. The state of Ohio has a coastline that faces north on Lake Erie, the southernmost of the Great Lakes. Toledo in the west and Cleveland in the east are the largest lake ports, but there are a number of smaller ports. There are also a number of islands in Ohio's portion of the lake. In addition to the Lake Erie coast there is navigation along the Ohio River, which forms the southern border of the state.

Ohio became the 17th state of the union in 1803.

There is no state lighthouse preservation society in Ohio but many of the towers are supported by local societies. The historic Marblehead Light, the oldest U.S. lighthouse on the Great Lakes, is by far the state's best known lighthouse. The historic towers at Ashtabula and Fairport Harbor have been restored and are open to the public. Much work has been done to restore the Lorain Harbor Light and efforts are well underway to restore the Toledo Harbor Light. Determined effort has also been successful in restoring the harbor lighthouse at Port Clinton.

Aids to navigation in Ohio are maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District with its headquarters in Cleveland and Aids to Navigation Teams at Detroit and Buffalo. Ownership (and sometimes operation) of historic lighthouses has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations in most cases.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. USCG numbers are from Volume VII of the United States Coast Guard Light List.


Ashtabula Harbor Light, Ashtabula
Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration and Preservation Society photo
General Sources
Lighthouses of Ohio
Photos and accounts by Kraig Anderson as part of his LighthouseFriends.com site. Anderson is the best Internet source for historical information on Ohio lighthouses.
Lighthouses of Ohio
Posted by Bryan Penberthy; directions to the lighthouses with links to photos.
Ohio Lighthouses
Good photos and brief accounts, with driving directions, posted by Gary Richardson and Anna Klein.
Lake Erie Lighthouses
Photos by Charles W. Bash.
Lights of Cleveland Harbor
An outstanding historical account (on a poorly known subject), published in the blog of the Great Lakes Lightkeepers Association (GLLKA) in April 2013.
Ohio, United States Lighthouses
Aerial photos posted by Marinas.com.
Lighthouses in Ohio
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
Leuchttürme USA auf historischen Postkarten
Historic postcard images of U.S. lighthouses posted by Klaus Huelse.
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: Light Lists
The USCG Light List can be downloaded in pdf format.
NOAA Nautical Charts
Official nautical charts for the coast can be viewed online.
Navionics Charts
Navigation chart for Ohio.
 
 
 
 


Marblehead Light, Marblehead, June 2020
Instagram photo by Rick Schnuerer

Lake Erie Lighthouses

Lucas County (Toledo Area) Lighthouses
Toledo is the fourth largest city of Ohio with a population of about 265,000 in the city proper and 600,000 in the metropolitan area. The city is built at the mouth of the Maumee River and at the extreme western end of Lake Erie.

Turtle Island (2)
1866 (station established 1832). Inactive since 1904; charted as a landmark. 42 ft (13 m) ruined square cylindrical stone tower; no lantern. A 2023 photo by Nosho Jones is at right, Pete Borsos has a 2018 photo, C.M. Hanchey has a 2012 photo, Wikipedia has an article with a historic photo, and Google has a satellite view. This endangered lighthouse is a long-time resident on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List. Turtle Island is a tiny island about 4 miles (6.5 km) northeast of Harbor View, on the north side of the Toledo harbor entrance. The island was long in dispute between the states of Ohio and Michigan; a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1973 left it bisected by the state border with the lighthouse standing on the Ohio half. The light tower was formerly attached church-style to a 2-story stone keeper's house, similar to the Green Island Light (see below) and the lighthouses at Marquette Harbor and Ontonagon, Michigan. Anderson has an 1885 National Archives photo showing the original appearance of the light station. The lighthouse was deactivated in favor of the Toledo Harbor Light (next entry). After years of neglect and vandalism the lighthouse was struck by a tornado in 1965. In 2002 Keith Fifer, who held a lease on the island, announced his intention to restore the light, control erosion, and provide for public access. In August, authorities in Monroe County, Michigan, sued to stop him from constructing buildings without permits on the Michigan portion of the island. In September building resumed and Fifer completed three vacation rental houses on the island. In 2008 Monroe County authorities, supported by a court order, ordered the unapproved structures demolished. In fact they were largely destroyed by ice floes during the winter of 2008-09. There's been no visible activity on the island recently. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner: private. Site manager: private. ARLHS USA-859.

Turtle Island Light, Toledo, August 2023
Google Maps photo by Nosho Jones
Toledo Entrance (Light 2)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 44 ft (13.5 m); red flash every 2.5 s. 35 ft (11 m) round tower mounted on a round 1-story equipment building, all mounted on a concrete pier. The tower is white with a red band around the equipment building. The light carries meteorological sensors for NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Fog horn (blast every 15 s). Not shown in Google's satellite view, the light marks the beginning of the dredged entrance channel for Toledo harbor. Located about 15 mi (25 km) northeast of Toledo harbor. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-6050.
Toledo Harbor
1904. Active; focal plane 72 ft (22 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 69 ft (21 m) square brick tower rising from the center of the roof of a 3-story Romanesque buff-colored brick keeper's house; 300 mm lens. The original Barbier & Benard 3-1/2 order Fresnel lens, removed in the 1995, is on display at the Maumee Bay State Park Nature Center. The tower and the building's roof painted black. A brick fog signal building is attached as an annex to the keeper's house. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. Jeremy Wolf's 2020 photo is at right, C.M. Hanchey has a good 2012 photo, a 2009 photo is available, and the Coast Guard has a 1931 photo, but the lighthouse is only a fuzzy spot in Bing's satellite view. This unique and architecturally significant lighthouse was mostly ignored by lighthouse fans and Toledo residents for many years. In 2003 the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed to work for preservation and restoration of the lighthouse. In September 2005 the Society applied to secure ownership of the station under the NHLPA. The application was approved and the deed was transferred in April 2007. In June 2006 the Lake Erie Protection Fund granted $10,000 towards building a new dock for access to the station. The dock was installed in October 2008 but somehow thieves stole it in April 2009. A replacement dock survived until it was carried away by a storm in 2015. Plans for the restoration have been completed; the cost may be as much as $2 million. The Fresnel lens, which had been displayed at the Toledo Science Center, was moved to Maumee Bay State Park in May 2008. In 2016 the first floor windows were restored. In June 2020 a contract was awarded for Phase One of the main restoration, aided by a $500,000 grant of federal transportation funds. When restoration is complete the plan is to staff the lighthouse with resident docents during the summer. Located on a stone-filled concrete crib at least 5 km (3 mi) offshore and 13 km (8 mi) northeast of the harbor entrance; there are distant views from the Niles Beach area and Maumee Bay State Park. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed except for occasional guided tours. Owner/site manager: Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society . ARLHS USA-853; USCG 7-6030.

Toledo Harbor Light, Toledo, July 2020
Instagram photo by Jeremy Wolf
* Manhattan Range Front (2)
1918 (station established 1895). Inactive since the late 1980s. 20 ft (6 m) skeletal tower with square steel lantern room. Formerly painted white, the lighthouse has been repainted with a dark orange lantern room, red roof, and light brown skeletal tower. Jon Clay's 2023 photo is at right, Andreas Köhler has a 2016 photo, and a 2010 photo and a historic photo are available. Anderson has a historic photo of the original lighthouse and also a photo of the original appearance of the present light. In the late 1980s the two Manhattan Range lights were removed by workers from Hansen Industries, who placed them in the company's parking lot. The front light was purchased by the owner of the Lighthouse Café, who moved it to the restaurant on the north side of the Maumee River at 2605 Broadway Street. In late 2014 the property was for sale for $1,495,000. In December 2015 the property was sold for $995,000 to the Toledo Zoo as its administrative office building. Google has a 2019 street view and a satellite view of the light on Broadway Street. In 2023 Jon Clay found that the light has been returned to Hansen Industries and the company has worked to restore it, repainting it and adding the missing ventilation ball. The photo at right shows it at the company's location and Google has a 2023 street view and a satellite view. (Note that Google Maps has the identifications of the lighthouse reversed.) Located at Hansen Industries at 2824 North Summit Street, at the intersection of Troy Street, on the north side of the Maumee River in Toledo. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: H. Hansen Industries. ARLHS USA-1089.

Manhattan Range Front Light, Toledo, March 2023
photo copyright Jon Clay; used by permission
* Manhattan Range Rear (2)
1918 (station established 1895). Inactive since the late 1980s. 20 ft (6 m) skeletal tower with square steel lantern room. Lantern painted beige with green trim and a green roof. This is only the top of the lighthouse, which was originally 80 ft (24 m) tall and located near the mouth of the Maumee River. Jim Davis has a 2007 photo and Google has a 2023 street view and a satellite view. Anderson has a historic photo of the original light station. The top of the lighthouse was salvaged and relocated in the late 1980s to the parking lot of Hansen Industries at 2824 North Summit Street, near Cleveland Street on the north side of the Maumee River in Toledo. The current rear range light (focal plane 105 ft (32 m); continuous red light; USCG 7-6110) is mounted atop a building at the city's Bay View Wastewater Treatment Facility; Google has an aerial view of the building. Located at the corner of Hansen Industries property, at the intersection of Summit Street and Cleveland Street. Site and tower closed but the lighthouse can be viewed from Summit Street nearby. Owner/site manager: H. Hansen Industries. ARLHS USA-927.
Toledo Water Works Intake Crib
Date unknown, Active (privately maintained); focal plane 50 ft (15 m); four quick-flashing white lights. Lights mounted atop a round masonry building. Geocaching.com has a photo of the structure, and the crib appears as a faint spot in Google's satellite view. The four lights replaced a single light when the roof of the structure was replaced in 2006. Located in Lake Erie 10.5 mi (17 km) east of the mouth of the Maumee River and 2 mi (3 km) northeast of the mouth of Cooley Creek. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (restricted area). Owner/operator: City of Toledo (Dept. of Public Utilities). USCG 7-6025.
West Sister Island
1848. Active; focal plane 57 ft (17.5 m); white flash every 4 s. 55 ft (17 m) round old-style brick tower, painted white. Lantern removed; a solar-powered light (300 mm lens) is displayed atop the capped tower. The keeper's house was destroyed in 1945 while the U.S. Army was using the island for artillery practice. One of the last built and least known of the old-style U.S. towers. Rachel Parker's photo is at right, Stephen Lowery has a 2017 photo, Jan Walters has a 2019 closeup, the Coast Guard has a historic photo of the light station, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is very close to the water and seems endangered by beach erosion. Formerly used as an Army target range, West Sister Island is now managed as a federally protected wilderness (the only national wilderness area in Ohio). Located on the southwestern tip of the island, about 6 miles (10 km) offshore and 15 miles (24 km) east of the mouth of the Maumee River. The island, site, and tower are all closed (sensitive wildlife area). Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge). . ARLHS USA-882; USCG 7-5550.

West Sister Island Light, Lake Erie, May 2017
Instagram photo by Rachel Paraker

Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses
** Port Clinton (Portage River) Breakwater (2) (relocated)
1896 (station established 1833). Reactivated (inactive 1952-2016, now privately maintained and unofficial; charted as an active light); focal plane about 8 m (26 ft); continuous white light. 20 ft (6 m) white square pyramidal wood tower. Lighthouse painted white, lantern roof black. Dan Clampit's photo is at right, Kelly Brown has a photo, Tom Bower has a photo, Mike Carson has a photo, Luke O'Neal has a street view, and Bing has a satellite view. The "pepperpot" form of this little lighthouse is very common in Canada. At one time there were many similar lighthouses on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes, but this is one of only two surviving U.S. examples of the type (the other is at Two Rivers in Southeastern Wisconsin). The lighthouse was formerly located at the end of the breakwater on the east side of the Portage River entrance; the Coast Guard has a 1911 photo. When it was deactivated in 1952 it was saved by the Brand family and relocated to their marina upstream, where it stood for more than six decades. In late 2011 the family offered to donate the lighthouse to the City of Port Clinton. The Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy was organized to work for its restoration. The Conservancy proposed that the lighthouse be displayed in the city's Waterworks Park at the harbor entrance, but work stalled in late 2012 over a disagreement as to location. By March 2013 work on the lantern was complete. In September the city finally approved placement of the lighthouse in the park, subject to further negotiation over details. Restoration of the tower was complete in summer 2014 but installation of the lighthouse continued to be delayed. Incredibly, negotiations were still stalled in May 2015 -- three years after they began. A final contract was approved by the city council in November 2015. On 15 April 2016 documents were signed licensing the placement of the lighthouse and transfering its ownership from Brand's Marina to the Conservancy. Work began immediately on a new foundation and the tower was installed at its new site on August 16. A replica 5th order Fresnel lens was installed in the tower. The lighthouse was dedicated and relit in a ceremony on September 26. In March 2017 the Conservancy announced plans to build a replica of the station's boathouse; construction was complete in 2019. In 2020 a "Lightkeeper" statue was displayed at the lighthouse and funds were being sought to purchase it as a permanent exhibit. The keeper's house (1901), located at 226 East Perry Street, was sold in 1927 and became a nurses' dormitory, then an apartment building, and for a while it housed a beauty salon. In 1983 it became a restaurant called the Garden at the Lighthouse. It was damaged by fire in September 2009 and in April 2010 the owner was arrested and charged with arson. In 2013 the damaged house was bought by a neighboring bank and demolished. The boathouse (1902) of the lighthouse survived in Waterworks Park in dilapidated condition until it was demolished in 2010; the Conservancy built a replica in 2018-19. In late 2020 the Conservancy announced plans to rebuild the station's oil house as a location for rest rooms. Site open, tower open Saturday and Sunday, Memorial Day weekend (late May) through Labor Day (early September) and on special occasions. Owner/site manager: Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy . ARLHS USA-914.

Restored Port Clinton Light, April 2018
Google Plus photo by Dan Clampit
**** Marblehead (Sandusky Bay)
1821 (William Kelly). Active; focal plane 67 ft (20.5 m); green flash every 6 s. 65 ft (20 m) round limestone tower (raised 15 ft in 1897); 300 mm lens. Lighthouse painted white; gallery rail and lantern roof are red. The 2-story Victorian wood keeper's house (1880) is a museum operated by the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society ; the 3rd order Fresnel lens (1904) and its rotating mechanism are on display. Rick Schnuerer's photo is at the top of this page, Bill Geiger has a fine photo, Anderson has an excellent page on the lighthouse, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has an 1897 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Brian Steele has a street view, and Google has a good satellite view. This is the oldest active lighthouse on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes. Ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the state in 1998. At that time the keeper's house was deteriorated and state decided to burn it; preservationists saved it in the nick of time. In 2001-02 the state carried out a $500,000 renovation of the tower and keeper's house. In 2004 the Fresnel lens was returned to the light station from the Marblehead Coast Guard Station, where it had been on display for many years. In 2016 the Historical Society completed a full-scale replica of the former U.S. Lifesaving Station adjacent to the lighthouse, and this building was dedicated as a museum in June. The exterior of the tower was restored in fall 2019. The Ottawa County Historical Society owns the original 1-story fieldstone Keeper's House, also known as the Benajah Wolcott House. It is located at 2173 Bayshore Road, 3 miles (5 km) from the light on OH 163 in Marblehead; C.M. Hanchey has a good photo and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse is located on OH 163 east of Lakeside. Site open; museum and tower open for guided tours daily Memorial Day (late May) through Labor Day (early September). Owner: Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Site manager: Marblehead Lighthouse State Park . ARLHS USA-472; USCG 7-5250.

Ottawa County: Lake Erie Islands Lighthouses
The Lake Erie Islands form a ragged chain of "stepping stones" crossing the lake from the Marblehead Peninsula in Ohio to Point Pelee in Ontario, Canada. The three Bass Islands and Kelleys Island are the largest U.S. islands in the chain, but the largest island of all, Pelee Island, is Canadian. South Bass Island and Kelleys Island are accessible by ferry. For Canadian lighthouses see the Southwestern Ontario page.

#Green Island (2)
1865 (station established 1855). Inactive since 1939. Ruined square cylindrical limestone tower attached church-style to a 2-story limestone keeper's house. The 4th order Fresnel lens from the lighthouse is on display at the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo. Matt Householder has a 2021 photo and Tim Harrison has a 1998 Lighthouse Digest article on the lighthouse but trees hide the old lighthouse in Google's satellite view. The lighthouse was gutted by fires set by vandals; it was on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List for years but it has been dropped from the list. The National Archives has an 1885 photo of the intact lighthouse. Located at the west end of a small island about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) northwest of the South Bass Island Light. Site and entire island closed (wildlife preserve). Owner/site manager: Ohio Division of Wildlife (Green Island Wildlife Area). ARLHS USA-353.
Green Island (3)
1939 (?) (station established 1855). Active; focal plane 80 ft (24 m); white flash every 2.5 s. 67 ft (20.5 m) square cylindrical steel skeletal tower with gallery. Randy Broderick also has an aerial view, Adam Lewis has a very distant view, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southwestern tip of the island. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Ohio Division of Wildlife. USCG 7-5535.
* South Bass Island (1)
1897 (J.P. Bumpus). Inactive since 1962. 60 ft (18 m) square red brick tower attached to one corner of 2-1/2 story red brick Queen Anne style keeper's house. Lantern painted white with a red roof. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society museum in Put-in-Bay. The original barn and oil house are also preserved. Bash's 2011 closeup is at right, Andrew Cole has a 2022 photo, a 2008 closeup and a 2009 view from the water are available, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Todd Schumaker has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is a sibling of the Two Harbors Light in Minnesota. In 1967 Ohio State University leased the building as a biological and ecological research facility, and in 1997, when the lease expired, the lighthouse was transferred permanently to the university. The building was restored and repaired in 2016 and the University announced it would be available for weddings and other special events. Located at the southwestern end of the island. The island is accessible by ferries from Catawba Island and Port Clinton; these ferries pass the lighthouse. Site open, building and tower closed to the public except for an occasional open house date. Owner: Ohio State University. Site manager: Franz Theodore Stone Laboratory. . ARLHS USA-769.

South Bass Island Light, Put-In-Bay, September 2011
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Charles Bash
South Bass Island (3)
Date unknown (station established 1897). Active; focal plane 74 ft (22.5 m); red flash every 6 s. 70 ft (21 m) square steel skeletal tower with gallery. The tower also carries a NOAA C-MAN automatic weather station. Ohio Sea Grant has a closeup photo. This tower replaced a square pyramidal skeletal tower seen in a Coast Guard photo. Located adjacent to the historic lighthouse. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: Franz Theodore Stone Laboratory. USCG 7-5530.
Rattlesnake Island
1990. Active (privately maintained and unofficial); focal plane about 45 ft (13.5 m); white light, pattern unknown. Approx. 43 ft (13 m) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; a stairway spirals around a central pole to reach the lantern. Erik Nyfenger's photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. This is probably the best known private lighthouse of the Great Lakes. Rattlesnake Island is an 85 acre (34 ha) island located northwest of South Bass Island and west of Middle Bass Island. Since 1980 it has been the site of the Rattlesnake Island Club, an exclusive group with 65 members. The lighthouse is not recognized by the Coast Guard but it is described on NOAA nautical charts as a "lighted marker." Located at the end of the breakwater pier of a small marina at the west end of the island. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed (private property). Owner/operator: Rattlesnake Island Club.
Rattlesnake Island Light
Rattlesnake Island Light, Put-in-Bay Township, September 2012
photo copyright Erik Nyfenger; used by permission
** Perry Memorial Monument
1915. Active; focal plane 335 ft (102 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 352 ft (107 m) round granite tower topped by a bronze urn. Floodlit at night. Alvin Trusty's photo is at right, Justin Rumao has a photo, Anderson has a good page with photos, Aleksandr Elesev has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. This is the tallest aid to navigation in the U.S., 75% taller than Cape Hatteras Light. The tower commemorates the 1813 naval victory of a U.S. fleet led by Oliver Perry over a British fleet; it also recognizes the peace that has prevailed between the U.S. and Canada since 1815. An elevator carries visitors to an observation deck 317 ft (96.5 m) above the lake. A new visitor center opened in May 2002. The tower was closed for repairs and restoration during 2012. Located on the northeastern portion of South Bass Island, which is accessible by ferries from Catawba Island and Port Clinton. Site open, visitor center and tower open daily late May through early September. Owner: U.S. National Park Service. Site manager: Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial. . ARLHS USA-1317; USCG 7-5670.
Ballast Island (2?)
Date unknown (station established 1916). Active; focal plane 92 ft (28 m); white flash every 4 s. 67 ft (20.5 m) square cylindrical skeletal tower. Google has a satellite view. The original light was described as a skeletal tower with an enclosed base. Ballast Island is a small, privately owned island about 1.25 mi (2 km) northeast of South Bass Island and the same distance east of Middle Bass Island. Accessible only by boat. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: private. Site and tower closed. USCG 7-5650.
* Camp Patmos (Kelley's Island)
1971. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 21 ft (6.5 m); quick-flashing white light. 18 ft (5.5 m) round gray-shingled tower with lantern; lantern roof is black. Virginia Travis has a closeup photo, Alfredo de la Fuente has a second photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse is part of a Baptist youth camp. Located on the northeastern point of Kelley's Island, which is accessible by ferry from Marblehead. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Camp Patmos. ARLHS USA-1245; USCG 7-5570.

Perry Memorial Light
Perry Memorial, Put-In-Bay, July 2012
Flickr
Creative Commons photo by Alvin Trusty


Erie County (Sandusky Area) Lighthouses
Sandusky is a town of about 25,000 residents roughly midway between Toledo and Cleveland. It is known for the Cedar Point Amusement Park, a major tourist attraction and entertainment center.
* Lyman Harbor
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 43 ft (13 m); white flash every 4 s. 43 ft (13 m) square skeletal tower, upper half enclosed, with lantern and double gallery. Enclosed section painted red with yellow trim. Andreas Köhler's photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse is part of an entertainment complex developed at the former Lyman Boat Works shipyard at 1615 First Street in Sandusky. Located at the end of the breakwater of the harbor; accessible by walking the pier. Site open, and visitors can climb to the lower gallery. Owner/site manager: Lyman Harbor. USCG 7-4945.
Moseley Channel Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 77 ft (23.5 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, intensified on the range line. 77 ft (23.5 m) steel post centered on a round base; the tower carries red daymark panels on each side near the top. Google has a distant street view (this tower is on the left) and Bing has a satellite view. This range guides vessels entering Sandusky Bay. Located just off the Bay Point spit on the west side of the entrance. Accessible only by boat, but there's a good view from the point. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-4575.
Moseley Channel Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 10 ft (33 m); quick-flashing green light, intensified on the range line. 10 ft (33 m) round cylindrical tower centered on a round 1-story base; the tower carries red daymark panels on each side near the top. Google has a distant street view (this tower is on the right) and Bing has a satellite view. Located about halfway between Bay Point and Cedra Point. Accessible only by boat, but there's a good view from both points. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-4570.

Lyman Harbor Light, Sandusky, September 2012
Lightphotos.net photo copyright Andreas Köhler; used by permission
 
Sandusky Bay Exit Channel Range Rear
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 53 ft (16 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off, visible only along the range line; also a passing light, yellow flash every 4 s, a focal plane 23 ft (7 m). 53 ft (16 m) square skeletal tower. Google has a distant street view and Bing has a satellite view. The front light is on a similar tower 33 ft (10 m) tall. Located in the bay just off the Cedar Point Marina. Accessible only by boat.Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-4730.
Straight Channel Range Rear (3?)
Date unknown (range established 1896). Active; focal plane 77 ft (23.5 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off, intensified on the range line. 77 ft (23.5 m) steel post centered on a round base; the tower carries red daymark panels on each side near the top. Jan Horák has a street view of the range (this tower is on the right) and Bing has a good satellite view. This range guides vessels leaving Sandusky Bay; the front light is on a similar but shorter tower. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) northwest of Cedar Point. Accessible only by boat, but there's a good view from the point. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-4630.
[Sandusky Harbor Breakwater (2)]
1990s (station established 1925). Active; focal plane 30 ft (9 m); white light occults every 4 s. Navigation beacon mounted atop a round cylindrical steel enclosure, painted white with a single green band. Bing has a satellite view. This is a standard "D9" tower similar to the Cleveland East Entrance Light. Anderson has a historic photo of the former (1925) light at this location, a 20 ft (6 m) skeletal tower with square steel lantern room. The 1925 light was still in place as late as 1993. Located at the end of a rough stone breakwater extending into the lake at Cedar Point. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-730; USCG 7-4560.
* Cedar Point (Range Rear) (2)
1862 (station established 1839). Inactive since 1904. 35 ft (11 m) square wood light tower centered on the roof of 1-1/2 story limestone keeper's house. Brandon Cirillo has an excellent photo, Mark Balduff has a 2020 photo, Rona Proudfoot has a photo, Wayne Sapulski has an article on the light station for Lighthouse Digest, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Anderson has a historic photo of the original lighthouse. The lighthouse became the rear light of a range in 1849 and continued as a range light until it was deactivated in 1904. The building, stripped of its light tower, continued in use as a buoy depot, then as a radio beacon station, and finally as a lifesaving station until 1975. The Cedar Point Amusement Park purchased the property in 1987. The light tower was replaced as part of a thorough restoration in 2000-01 and the site is now part of the Lighthouse Point Campground. Located at the westernmost tip of Cedar Point on the east side of the Sandusky Bay entrance. Site open, lighthouse status unknown (closed, according to Anderson). Owner/site manager: Cedar Point Amusement Park. ARLHS USA-926.

Cedar Point Light, Sandusky, August 2014
Flickr
Creative Commons photo copyright 2014 Matt Dempsey Photography
Huron Harbor (3)
1936 (F.P. Dillon and W. G. Will) (station established 1835). Active; focal plane 80 ft (24 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 72 ft (22 m) Art Moderne steel square cylindrical tower on a square steel fog signal building, mounted on a stone foundation at the end of the breakwater. The lantern was removed in 1972; a solar-powered 375 mm lens is exposed at the top of the tower. Fog horn on request (two blasts every 30 s). Entire lighthouse painted white. A 2020 photo is at right, Gerime Blankenship has a 2022 photo, Richardson and Klein have a photo, the Coast Guard has a 1935 photo of the lighthouse showing the original lantern, Brian Smith has a distant street view, and Google has a satellite view. Sibling of the Conneaut Harbor lighthouse (see below). This light was formerly operated by remote control from a small brick station on shore. The 1835 lighthouse was replaced by a skeletal iron tower with an enclosed upper section in 1857. In 1900 the lower section was also enclosed. In 1934-35 a 1200 ft (365 m) rubblestone extension of the breakwater was built. Today the Army Corps of Engineers is building a 64-acre (28 ha) island with dredge spoil adjacent to the lighthouse; this will be a town park eventually (more than half the area has been filled, as seen in a Google satellite view). After two years consideration, the Coast Guard agreed in early 2019 to allow the lighthouse to be floodlit at night. Located on a crib just off the end of the harbor breakwater extension. The extension is not walkable, but the city maintains a popular viewing platform on the foundation of the 1857 lighthouse at the end of the original breakwater, accessible by a walk of about 3/4 mi (1.2 km). There's also a view from Nickel Plate Park at the end of Nickel Plate Drive, off Tiffen Street in downtown Huron. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. Coast Guard. Site manager: City of Huron. . ARLHS USA-393; USCG 7-4475.

Huron Harbor Light, Huron, October 2020
Instagram photo by luke8string_lighthouses
* Vermilion (5) (replica)
1992 (replica of 1877 lighthouse). Station established 1847. Reactivated (inactive 2005-2016; privately maintained); focal plane 35 ft (11 m); continuous white light. 16 ft (5 m) white octagonal cast iron tower, painted white with a red band at the base; lantern painted black. A 5th order Fresnel lens is in use. A 2021 photo is at right, Carol Lester has a 2020 photo, Rona Proudfoot has a good 2007 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The original lighthouse had to be replaced three times due to storm or ice damage, in 1854, 1859 and 1877. The 1877 lighthouse was removed in 1929 after being damaged by winter ice from the lake. Replaced by a skeletal tower, the lighthouse was repaired at the lighthouse depot in Buffalo and relocated in 1935 to East Charity Shoals, Lake Ontario (see Central and Northern New York). The original keeper's house survives and is now the Paradise Salon at 654 Grand Street; Google has a street view but trees hide the house in Google's satellite view. The replica lighthouse, built by the Great Lakes Historical Society using $55,000 in public contributions, was installed outside the society's lakefront Inland Seas Maritime Museum. In 2012 the museum closed in preparation for moving to the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum in Toledo, so in July ownership of the lighthouse was transferred to the city. In 2016 a campaign raised $40,000 to buy a replica 5th order Fresnel lens for the lighthouse; it was lit in a ceremony on 15 September 2016. Main Street Vermilion, a local preservation organization, coordinates restoration of the lighthouse through its Lighthouse Preservation Committee. Located at the foot of Main Street, just off US 6 and OH 60 in downtown Vermilion. (The original stood nearby at the end of the Vermilion Harbor West Pier.) Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Vermilion. . ARLHS USA-868; USCG 7-4451.
* Vermilion Water Tower
Date unknown (tower built about 1941). Active (privately maintained); focal plane 191 ft (58 m); white flash every 4 s. 150 ft (45.5 m) spherical water tank on a tall pedestal. Entire tower is white. Rona Proudfoot has a photo, Lightphotos.net has Andreas Köhler's photo, the Akron Railroad Club has several photos (lower half of the page), and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The tower has held no water since 1992 but it has been maintained as a familiar feature of the town's skyline and a useful navgational aid. Located on West River Road just off US 6 in downtown Vermillion. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Vermilion. USCG 7-4429.
 

Vermilion Light, Vermilion, February 2021
Instagram photo by solitude_wickie

Lorain County Lighthouses
Lorain is a city of about 65,000 residents on the western outskirts of the Cleveland metropolitan area.

* Beaver Creek Entrance
Date unknown. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 25 ft (7.5 m); continuous green light. Approx. 25 ft (7.5 m) square tower with an A-frame roof; the green lights are provided by horizontal neon tubes around all four sides of the tower. Jill Rosebeck has a photo, a view from shore is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the entrance to the Beaver Park Marina on the west side of Lorain. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Beaver Park Marina. USCG 7-4410.
Lorain Harbor (3) (Lorain West Breakwater)
1917 (station established 1909). Reactivated (inactive 1966-2001?); focal plane 58 ft (17.5 m); red flash every 4 s. 51 ft (15.5 m) square tower rising from one corner of a 2-1/2 story reinforced concrete keeper's house. Building painted white with red roof. Downgraded in status to a minor aid, the light tower also carries a red triangular daymark. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display by the Lorain Port Authority at its ferry terminal building at Black River Landing. Courtney Emery's photo is at right, Anderson also has an excellent page for the lighthouse, Joel Papay has a 2017 photo, Wikimedia has several photos, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has a 1919 photo, Jason Shibley has a 2021 drone view, and Google has a satellite view. A temporary wood light was placed at the end of the breakwater when it was built in 1909; a skeletal tower replaced it in 1912. The current lighthouse is often called the "Jewel of the Port" light. A local preservation group prevented demolition of the lighthouse in 1965, but preserving it over the years has required a sustained effort. The foundation was restored by the Corps of Engineers and exterior renovations were carried out in 1999. In 2003 the Black River Historical Society (now called the Lorain Historical Society) leased a nearby building to start a lighthouse museum. In 2005 the Port of Lorain Foundation announced a campaign to raise $3 million to complete the restoration of the lighthouse, improve docking facilities, and develop the onshore building as a visitor center, museum, and gift shop. Meanwhile the Coast Guard had loaned the Fresnel lens in 1984 to the Charlotte-Genesee lighthouse in Rochester, New York; in 2007 the foundation demanded the return of the lens from Rochester, and the Coast Guard agreed to return the lens when the loan agreement ended in 2011. In 2013 a $190,000 state grant funded repainting and window replacement. In addition, the lens was refurbished for display by the Port Authority. Located at the end of the Lorain Harbor West Breakwater. There's a view from boat ramps behind the water treatment plant at the foot of Oberlin Street in downtown Lorain, and the lighthouse can also be seen on cruises offered by the port authority. Site and tower closed except for guided tours offered during the summer (reservations required) and Tuesday night dinners catered by the Jackalope Lakeside Restaurant. Owner: Port of Lorain Foundation, Inc. Site manager: Lorain Lighthouse Foundation . ARLHS USA-453; USCG 7-4335.

1917 Lorain Harbor Light, Lorain, July 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Courtney Emery
* [Lorain West Pier (4?)]
Date unknown (station established 1836). Active; focal plane 32 ft (10 m); red flash every 6 s. 26 ft (8 m) post carrying a red triangular daymark. A distant view is available and Google has a satellite view. Anderson has a photo of the original lighthouse, a round stone tower built on the west pier at the entrance to the Black River. In 1875 the pier was extended and a square wood lighthouse was built. It became the front light of an entrance range in 1893; Anderson has a historic photo showing the two pier range lights in 1911. In 1909 the west breakwater was built, and the west pier light became the rear light of a range with the west breakwater light as the front light. The pier range was discontinued in 1912 and the lighthouse was replaced by a skeletal tower in 1922. The present light is known only as Lorain Light 6. Located on the west pier. One can drive onto this pier and park next to the light. USCG 7-4350.
Lorain Harbor (4) (Lorain East Breakwater)
1965. Active; focal plane 60 ft (18 m); white flash every 6 s. 50 ft (15 m) square cylindrical steel tower rising from a square 1-story concrete equipment shelter. Lighthouse painted white with green trim. Fog horn (blast every 30 s) as needed. Andreas Köhler's photo is at right, Rona Proudfoot has a photo, Matt Dempsey has a winter photo, Anderson has a photo, Penberthy has a page for the lighthouse, and Google has a satellite view. This tower replaced the 1917 lighthouse (see above) as the official Lorain Harbor Light. Usually omitted from lists of Ohio lighthouses, it attracts almost no attention. Located at the end of the detached Lorain Harbor East Outer Breakwater. Accessible only by boat. There's a view from boat ramps behind the water treatment plant at the foot of Oberlin Street in downtown Lorain. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-1037; USCG 7-4320.

Lorain Harbor (East Breakwater) Light, Lorain, June 2008
Lightphotos.net photo copyright Andreas Köhler; used by permission

Cuyuhoga County (Cleveland City) Lighthouses
Cleveland is the metropolis of northeastern Ohio, located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. The population within the city limits is about 380,000, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2 million. The Port of Cleveland is a large bulk freight port and the third largest port of the Great Lakes.
Cleveland Waterworks Intake Crib
Date unknown (station established 1904). Active; focal plane 55 ft (17 m); quick-flashing white light. 17 m (56 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower, unpainted; the light is shown from a small quadrupod mounting on the roof. Fog horn (one 3 s blast every 30 s). A photo and a second photo are available and C.M. Hanchey has a distant view but the crib is only a fuzzy spot in Google's satellite view. A series of lights have been placed on the crib over the years. Located in the lake about 4 km (2.5 mi) northwest of the harbor entrance. There should be distant views from Edgewater or Lakewood Parks on the west side of downtown Cleveland. Accessible only by boat. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-4030.
Cleveland Harbor Main Entrance (West Pierhead) (2)
1911 (station established 1884). Active; focal plane 63 ft (19 m); flash every 5 s, alternating red and white. 67 ft (20 m) round cast iron sparkplug style tower incorporating 3-story keeper's quarters and attached to a 1-1/2 story cast iron fog signal building (1916); solar-powered 300 mm lens (?). Building painted white, lantern black with red roof. The original 4th order Fresnel lens is on display at the Great Lakes Science Center. Fog horn (2 blasts every 30 s) as needed. The lighthouse is floodlit at night. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, Bash has a photo, David Basile has a 2017 photo, Marinas.com has aerial photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. The first lighthouse was relocated here from the Rochester, New York, West Pierhead. In 1911 the breakwater was extended and the older light was demolished. In 2007 the lighthouse was offered for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. There were no takers and in 2010 the lighthouse was offered a second time. Again there were no takers. In 2021 the lighthouse became available for transfer a third time under NHLPA and agin there were no takers. The lighthouse was then sold at auction, in September 2023, for $425,000. The new owners, Heather Moore and Jim Brown, have a website for their purchase. Located on a concrete platform at the end of the stone pier. Accessible only by boat (pier does not connect to shore); harbor cruises provide a good view. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private (Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse). . ARLHS USA-178; USCG 7-4160.
[Cleveland West Inner Pier (4?)]
Date unknown (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 27 ft (8 m); red flash every 2.5 s. 6 m (20 ft) post carrying a red triangular daymark. Rick Gerling has a street view and Google has a satellite view. Anderson has a drawing of the original lighthouse, a square wood tower. This light was replaced by a round tower in 1900. The second lighthouse was destroyed in June 1917 by a collision with the steamship J.C. Morse; it was replaced by a small skeletal tower. The Cleveland Coast Guard Station was at the base of the pier until 1976; the station has been acquired by the city for future restoration. Located at the end of the pier on the west side of the entrance to the Cuyahoga River. Site status unknown. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. ARLHS USA-180; USCG 7-4185.

Harbor Main Entrance Light, Cleveland, July 2012
Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey
Cleveland Harbor Main Entrance (East Pierhead)
1911. Active; focal plane 39 ft (12 m); green light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 31 ft (9.5 m) round cast iron tower; solar-powered 300 mm lens. Tower white, lantern black. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, R.J. Rauen has a 2020 photo, Rona Proudfoot's panoramic photo shows both pierhead lighthouses, and Google has a satellite view. In 2005 the Coast Guard removed the lighthouse temporarily in order to repair the pier; Rona Proudfoot's photo shows that it was back by November. In 2007 the lighthouse was offered for transfer under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. There were no takers, and in August 2009 the lighthouse was sold at auction for $10,000 to Gary Zaremba, president of the Artisan Restoration Group of New York. Zaremba said he "plans to rent it out to boaters looking for a place to dock and enjoy the downtown skyline." Located on a concrete platform at the end of the stone pier. Accessible only by boat (pier does not connect to shore); harbor cruises provide a good view. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private. ARLHS USA-177; USCG 7-4165.
[Cleveland East Inner Pier (4?)]
Date unknown (station established 1831). Active; focal plane 31 ft (9.5 m); green flash every 2.5 s. 6 m (20 ft) post carrying a green square daymark. Mike Murray has a street view and Google has a satellite view. Anderson has a photo of the 1875 light, a square wood tower. This lighthouse was replaced by a small skeletal tower in 1936. Located at the end of the pier on the east side of the entrance to the Cuyahoga River. Site status unknown. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-4180.
Cleveland East Entrance (4?)
Date unknown (station established 1915). Active; focal plane 59 ft (18 m); red light, 3 s on, 3 s off. Red lens mounted on a 47 ft (14 m) round cylindrical steel tower, painted white with a red band. Lightphotos.net has a photo and Google has a satellite view. This modern aid to navigation is a larger version of the "D9" towers like many other pierhead lights on the Great Lakes. It is at least the fourth light on the breakwater. Anderson has a historic photo of the second (1918) light. This light survived at least into the 1990s. Located at the extreme eastern end of the breakwaters protecting Cleveland Harbor, near I-90 exit 176. Accessible only by boat (the pier does not connect to shore). There are good views from Cleveland Lakefront State Park. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: U.S. Coast Guard. USCG 7-4060.

East Pierhead Light, Cleveland, July 2012
Flickr Creative Commons photo by C.M. Hanchey

Lake County (Fairport Harbor) Lighthouses
Fairport Harbor is a village of about 3000 residents at the mouth of the Grand River. It is perhaps best known for its two historic lighthouses.
Fairport Harbor West Breakwater (3)
1925. Active; focal plane 56 ft (17 m); white light, 3 s on, 3 s off. 42 ft (13 m) square cast iron tower attached to a 2-story cast iron keeper's house; 300 mm lens. Building painted white with red roof. Fog horn on request (2 blasts every 30 s). A 2023 photo is at right, Kaylin Mazzetti has a 2023 photo, Wikimedia has a photo by Laszlo Ilyes, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, Lighthouse Digest has Tim Harrison's feature story on the history of Fairport lighthouses, and Bing has a satellite view. In 2005 the lighthouse became available for transfer under NHLPA. One or more applicants were granted extensions, but ultimately no satisfactory application was received. In late September 2009 the General Services Administration offered the lighthouse for sale online. It was sold for $77,000 to Jerome T. Osborne, a local businessman and contractor, who said he intended to preserve the lighthouse and work to open it to the public. However, Osborne defaulted on the purchase, and in July 2010 the lighthouse was back up for auction. In October it was sold to Scott Monroe, of Seabrook, Texas, for $82,500. Monroe also failed to complete his purchase and the lighthouse was back on the auction block for a third time in May 2011. This time it was sold to Sheila Consaul of Reston, Virginia, who is renovating the lighthouse as a summer residence. Work during summer 2012 included roof repairs and window replacement. In June 2013 Ms. Consaul held an open house to show area residents the progress of the work. In October 2014 she launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $22,900 for restoring the metal facade of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was painted in 2016. Located close to the end of the stone breakwater; the breakwater is reported to be uneven and somewhat dangerous to walk. At the very end of the breakwater is the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Extension Light, a post light (focal plane 46 ft; red flash every 2.5 s; USCG 7-3865). There's a good view from nearby Headlands Beach State Park. Site and tower closed, except that the owner has held open houses once each year in early June. Owner/site manager: private (Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-280; USCG 7-3870.
* [Fairport Harbor West Pier]
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 20 ft (6 m); continuous red light. 6 m (20 ft) round cylindrical "D9" tower, painted white with one horizontal red band. Anderson has a photo showing the Grand River lighthouse in the background and Bing has a satellite view. Located at the end of a short pier on the west side of the entrance to the Grand River, adjacent to the Coast Guard Station Fairport. Accessible by walking the pier. Site open, tower closed. USCG 7-3880.

West Breakwater Light, Fairport Harbor, June 2023
Instagram photo by Fairport Harbor West
** Grand River (Fairport Harbor) (2)
1871 (station established 1825). Inactive since 1925. 69 ft (21 m) unpainted round sandstone tower; original 3rd order Fresnel lens still mounted in tower. A well-preserved light station with the original 2-story brick keeper's quarters, steel oil house (1904), barn, and other structures. The 3rd order Fresnel lens is on display in the building. Sibling of the Erie Land Light in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Doug Kerr's photo is at right, Anderson has a good page for the station, Heather Gibson has a 2023 photo, Michael Miller has a 2021 photo, Lighthouse Digest has Tim Harrison's feature on the lights and lost lights of Fairport Harbor, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Local protests prevented the demolition of the lighthouse when it was replaced by the breakwater light in 1925. In 1945 the Fairport Harbor Historical Society was founded specifically to establish a maritime museum in the old lighthouse. Located at Second and High Streets in Fairport Harbor. Site open, museum and tower open (small admission fee) in the afternoons on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays late May through mid September; group tours available May 1 through November 1. Owner/site manager: Fairport Harbor Marine Museum . ARLHS USA-279.

Ashtabula County Lighthouses
Ashtabula Harbor (3)
1905 (station established 1836). Active; focal plane 51 ft (15.5 m); yellow flash every 6 s. 40 ft (12 m) round cylindrical tower rising from the center of the roof of a 2-story square wood keeper's house; building painted white with a red roof. Original fog signal building attached as an annex. A photo is at the top of this page, Anderson has photos and the history of the station, Lightphotos.net has Bash's photo, Alex Vergilis has a 2021 closeup, Shaun Richey has a 2022 drone view, Marinas.com has aerial photos, the Coast Guard has a historic photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was relocated 1750 ft (533 m) to the end of the breakwater in 1916; at the same time it was expanded substantially to provide quarters for the keepers. The previous 2-story wood keeper's house (1871-1898) on shore is now the Ashtabula Maritime and Surface Transporation Museum ; a 4th order Fresnel lens (1896), used here 1959-1995, is on display. Lighthouse Digest has Jeremy D'Entremont's March 2006 article on restoration of the Fresnel lens by Jim Woodward. The lighthouse survived a collision with the Canadian steamer Gleneagles in 1927. The Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration and Preservation Society was formed to work for restoration of the lighthouse. In 2004 the National Park Service recommended transfer of the lighthouse to the society under the NHLPA and the transfer was completed in April 2007. In 2018 the lighthouse was repainted and the state granted $280,000 for restoration including replacement of the doors and windows. Work proceeded in several phases, hampered by the Covid crisis, and it was was being completed in the fall of 2021. Located near the end of the west breakwater, which extends 1.3 mi (2.1 km) into the lake. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed; museum open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and holiday afternoons Memorial Day through August, Saturdays and Sundays in September. Owner/site manager: Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration Society. . ARLHS USA-020; USCG 7-3745.
Fairport Harbor Light
Grand River Light, Fairport Harbor, November 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Doug Kerr
* Conneaut Harbor (West Breakwater) (3)
1936 (F.P. Dillon and W. G. Will) (station established 1906). Active; focal plane 80 ft (24 m); flash every 5 s, alternating red and white. 70 ft (21 m) square cylindrical Art Moderne steel tower on a square base, mounted on a stone foundation at the end of the breakwater. 375 mm lens. The lantern was removed in 1972. Lighthouse painted white with a single black band. C.M. Hanchey's photo is at right, a closeup 2023 photo is available, Robert English has a good photo, David Owens has a web site on the history of the light station, Marinas.com has aerial photos, and Bing has a satellite view. The history of Conneaut lighthouses is complex. Anderson has a historic photo of the first west breakwater lighthouse, built in 1906; it also served as the front light of a range. In 1915 the breakwater was replaced, and in 1920 a new lighthouse was built; the Coast Guard has a historic photo of that lighthouse. In late 2008, the General Services Administration sold the present lighthouse at auction for $35,000 to Gary Zaremba. However, Zaremba abandoned his purchase after he was unable to get a lease for the bottomlands from the State of Ohio. The lighthouse was back on the auction block in 2011, and this time it was sold for $46,000 to Jerry Killilea Jr., a businessman, delivery truck driver and part-time farmer from Orient, Ohio. Killilea does not appear to have made any significant effort to restore the lighthouse, and in 2018 he put the lighthouse back on sale for $72,000. Killilea passed away later that year but his family continues to own the lighthouse. Located at the end of the breakwater west of the entrance to Conneaut Harbor (Conneaut is pronounced "con-e-aught"). Accessible only by boat (the breakwater is detached from shore); there's a good view from Lakeview City Park. Site and tower closed. Owner: U.S. General Services Administration. Operator: U.S. Coast Guard. Owner/site manager: private (Conneaut Lighthouse ). ARLHS USA-190; USCG 7-3705.

West Pierhead Light, Conneaut, September 2017
Facebook photo by Rich McBride posted by the Conneaut Port Authority
[Conneaut West Pier (4?)]
Date unknown (station established 1875). Active; focal plane 20 ft (6 m); green flash every 2.5 s. 17 ft (5 m) post carrying a square green daymark. Zach Finchey has a street view and Bing has a satellite view. The first lighthouse at Conneaut was built on the east pier in 1835; it was replaced in 1859. In 1875 the light was moved to the west pier, but in 1885 it was moved up the hill into town. In 1892 a second, temporary light was placed on the west pier, and in 1895 a permanant lighthouse was built. In 1897 this lighthouse became the front light of a range; both range lights are seen in a historic photo. It's not known when these lights were removed. Located on the west pier at Conneaut. Site status unknown. ARLHS USA-189; USCG 7-3715.

Inland Lighthouses

Grand Lake St. Marys (Mercer County) Lighthouses
Grand Lake St. Marys is a rather shallow lake about 8 mi (13 km) long and 3 mi (5 km) wide, located mostly in Mercer County southwest of Lima in western Ohio. The principal towns on the lake are Celina at the northwestern corner and St. Marys at the northeastern corner.
* Celina
1986. Active; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); continuous white light. 40 ft (12 m) round conical tower on a circular stone base; observation platform at the top of the base. Tower painted white, lantern black. A photo is at right, Anderson has a nice page on the lighthouse, Deb Heen has a 2020 photo, Huelse has a postcard view, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Built as a civic improvement project by the Celina Rotary Club, this is one of the better known inland lighthouses of the U.S. Located on South Main Street off US 127 and OH 29 in downtown Celina. Site and observation platform open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: City of Celina. .
Northwood
1923. Reactivated in 2020; focal plane 50 ft (15 m); continuous white light. 50 ft (15 m) round conical tower, painted white; lantern is gray. Anderson has a page with a good photo and Google has a satellite view. The Lake Improvement Association restored and reactivated the lighthouse in 2020. Located at the end of Northwood Drive off county road 703 on the north shore of Grand Lake St. Mary's about 5 mi (8 km) east of Celina. Visible from boats on the lake. Site and tower closed (access is through private property). Owner/site manager: Lake Improvement Association. . ARLHS USA-928.
* Grimm Memorial (Behm's Landing)
2003. Active; focal plane about 52 ft (16 m); white light. 48 ft (14.5 m) octagonal stucco-clad tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern black. Anderson has a page with good photos and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was built by Stan and Laura Grimm in memory of their son Stan, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1997. The light marks the entrance to a creek lined by private homes. Located on an island on the south shore of the lake at Behm's Landing; there's a good view from Behm's Family Restaurant , 5490 Behm Road. Site and tower closed. Owner/site manager: private.
Celina Light
Celina Light, Celina, May 2009
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Jerry
 

Buckeye Lake North Shore (Licking County) Lighthouses
Buckeye Lake is a nineteenth-century reservoir located roughly 30 mi (19 km ) east of Columbus in central Ohio. The lake is about 16 km (10 mi) long but only 500-1000 m (0.3-0.6 mi) wide. Lighthouses are a popular feature of the lake and there are several active private lights along the lakeshore as well as a number of faux lighthouses.
* Buckeye Lake Yacht Club
Date unknown (building dates from 1913). Active; focal plane 40 ft (12 m); flashing white light. 48 ft (14.5 m) square cupola centered on a 2-story clubhouse building. Building painted white; roofs are red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located just off the north side of the central section of the lake. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Buckeye Lake Yacht Club.

Buckeye Lake South Shore (Perry County) Lighthouses
* Snug Harbor
Date unknown (around 2010). Active; focal plane about 65 ft (20 m); flashing red light. 48 ft (14.5 m) square masonry tower attached to a 2-story clubhouse buidling. Building painted tan; lantern painted black. Snug Harbor is an upscale development on the south side of the lake; it includes a sheltered harbor created by cutting a new channel from the lake to a nearby pond. A photo is available and Google has a satellite view. Located at the harbor entrance off Custer Point Road on the south central section of the lake. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Snug Harbor Village
Vista Point
1998. Active; focal plane about 40 ft (12 m); flashing red light. 44 ft (13.5 m) octagonal wood tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern and gallery painted red. A 2009 photo is available and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of Vista Point Drive in Heron Bay, at the extreme southeastern corner of the lake, marking the entrance to the canals of the Vista Point neighborhood. Site and tower closed (private property), so the light is best seen from the lake. Owner/site manager: private.
 

Ohio River (Hamilton County) Lighthouse
* Coney Island
About 1925. Inactive for many years. 58 ft (18 m) round unpainted rubblestone tower with lantern and gallery. Bill Eichelberger's photo is at right and Google has a satellite view. Coney Island is not an island at all; it is an amusement park on the Ohio River above Cincinnati. The park is much diminished from its former size and much of the site is now occupied by the Riverbend Music Center; the amusement park closed at the end of 2023 and is to be replaced by additional entertainment venues. The lighthouse stands at the former park entrance; originally it carried a rotating light guiding excursion boats. Located near the riverbank off Kellogg Avenue a short distance southwest of the I-275 bridge. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Music & Event Management, Inc.
Coney Island Light
Coney Island Light, Cincinnati, June 2005
Flickr photo copyright Bill Eichelberger; used by permission

Information on Lost Lighthouses

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: North: Southwestern Ontario | East: Northwestern Pennsylvania | West: Michigan's Southeastern Lower Peninsula

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Last checked and revised January 2, 2024. Lighthouses: 46. Site copyright 2024 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.