The Lighthouses of Lake Erie

Since it is on private land, visitors must be escorted to the light by members of the Grosse Isle Historical Society. ARLHS # USA-357

Photo courtesy Dave Wobser [boatnerd]

The front range light is on a 26 ft cylindrical steel tower 525 ft south. Located on the St. Clair River just upstream from Lake St. Clair. Accessible only by boat, visible from the end of South Channel Drive (extension of MI 154) south of Clay's Landing

Located southwest of Harsens Island marking a channel from Lake St. Clair into the St. Clair River (but not the channel now used). Accessible only by boat, visible from the end of South Channel Drive (extension of MI 154) south of Clay's Landing. ARLHS # USA-790

Once physically on Lake St. Claire, this light house has been moved to Marine City. ARLHS # USA-586

Located in Mariner's Park, at the end of Alter Road in Grosse Pointe, this is at the Detroit River entrance from Lake St. Clair, a little over a mile east of Belle Isle. ARLHS # USA-896

Alone on an island in Lake Frances, it is unlikely that any boat will need illumination from this lighthouse. ^{1880 photo}

Exit I-75 at McClintock and travel west past Woodward. Navigate behind the Palmer Park apartments and park at the Civil Defense offices. Walk to the Northwest corner of the lake.

Located at the foot of Mt. Elliott St. Follow Jefferson North from the Ren Center, turn right just before the Belle Isle Bridge.

This has never been an aid to navigation, but has strongly influenced all the Michigan Lights built after 1871.

Located right on Detroit's waterfront in the William G. Miliken State Park. The park can be accessed on Atwater Drive at the foot of St.Aubin Road.

Being 8.4 miles from the mouth of the river, this is a boat trip or nothing. We decided a one day trip on my birthday would be fun. The weather didn't cooperate (too much, but then you'll notice it's not raining as I took this picture.) ARLHS # USA-853

The current rear light is on the sewage disposal plant and can be seen from Summit Street. From I-280, take the the Summit Street exit north for 1.3 miles. The Front Light is actually in the river. ARLHS # USA-1089

Established in 1913 to replace an earlier structure, the Manhattan range lights served to guide mariners on their final entry into the Maumee River. Obsoleted in the 1980’s, the front range tower was given to local manufacturer Hansen Industries, who relocated it to their parking lot at 2824 N. Summit Street in Toledo. You can photograph this light from the sidewalk in front of the factory gates.

The rear range tower of the 1913 Manhattan range lights was given to a Toledo restaurant after the lights were eliminated in the 1980’s. The light was transported across town and re-erected in the restaurant parking alongside the Maumee River. While the restaurant had gone out of business the last time we visited, the tower is still standing in the parking lot at 2605 Broadway Street.

This is actually only the top portion of the lighthouse that once stood at the west river entrance. (There was also an east lighthouse in the 1800s.)

Moved in 2016 to a public park. ARLHS # CAN-914

This structure isn't a lighthouse at all, but it is one of the most widely recognized structures on Lake Erie from the water. The light is 2.3 miles from the ferry landing you would take to the South Bass Island. ARLHS # USA-1317

This lighthouse is on the peninsula just north of Sandusky and is in a beautiful location. ARLHS # CAN-472

It looks like this light marks the harbor for the condos at the east end of Cedar Point. It is not an official aid to navigation.

Adjacent to the old home for Inland Seas Maritime Museum, this is replica built in the 1990s. The original light was dismantled and sent to Ontario (see the East Charity Shoals light). The museum looks like it is worth the visit, so stop by and check it out. The word is they are moving to the lakefront in Lorain. ^NY22 ARLHS # USA-868

I'm not sure this is any more than a daymark as there is no visible light from where we stood. ARLHS # USA-453

see thoughts above. We took this photo as we drove west over the river. ARLHS # USA-177

The lighthouse is easily accessible in a public reserve at Cleveland Point a short distance from Cleveland, Queensland.

Unfortunately, this lighthouse is in Cleveland, Queensland (Australia) so nearly 13,000 miles away. I'm going to leave the photo here until I get the Australia pages working, but it's not in Cleveland OH.

Photo courtesy cindytoo [Flickr]

On the East side of the harbor as you work your way in from the Fairport Breakwater light. This is a simple pole light and many would not classify it as a "lighthouse".

Located at the end of the breakwater west of the entrance to Conneaut Harbor. Accessible by walking the pier, there's also a good view from Lakeview City Park. ARLHS # USA-190

A simple pole light marking the east side of the entrance to the Ashtabula harbor.

Located south of State Route 703 on the northern shore of Grand Lake St. Marys east of Celina in Jefferson Township, Mercer County, Ohio, United States. Built in 1923, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ARLHS # USA-928

Photo courtesy Nyttend [wikipedia]

Green Island is a small island of the U.S. state of Ohio, in Lake Erie. It is located approximately three miles southwest of Put-in-Bay. ARLHS # USA-353

In the Presque Isle park of Erie PA, this is a very neat lighthouse. It is the residence of the park manager, but visible from the lake side. ARLHS # USA-666

This tower was built with local stone and was originally powered by Natural Gas.

The lighthouse is right on the lake road, but it is on private land. ARLHS # USA-038

This light marks the entrance to the harbor near the power plant in Dunkirk.

The light is visible from NY5 just north of the coast guard station. The best views are from the water. ARLHS # USA-1302

This light was built in 1833 replacing a beacon built in 1818. It is built of limestone and has withstood time very well at the mouth of the Buffalo River.

This is on the site of the Coast Guard Station, so 9/11 security may complicate viewing. ARLHS # USA-090

Best viewed from the water, but a distant view is possible from the Buffalo Main Lighthouse. ARLHS # USA-386

This lighthouse is located at the end Point Abino Road which sits in a private community of mostly wealthy US citizens. ARLHS # CAN-385

Photo courtesy Dave Johnson [Flickr]

This little lighthouse marks the southern entrance to the Welland Canal. Located at the south end of the T-shaped west breakwater at the canal entrance in Port Colborne. Visible distantly from Lakeview Park at the end of Elm Street. Accessible only by boat (breakwater does not connect to shore). ^canal

Marks the east side of the south entrance to the Welland canal. From here boats have 8 locks to navigate and travel time is about 11 hours.

From Ontario Highway 3 in Port Colborne, travel west on Niagara Region Highway 3. Continue through Lowbanks past Mohawk Point Road. Look for Dickhout Road. The next road is Pyle Road. Turn left (south) on Pyle. The lighthouse can be seen from the end of Pyle Road. ARLHS # CAN-324

Located at the East side of the entrance near Canal Feeder Road in Port Maitland.

A pyramidal wooden tower currently with aluminum siding. (Built in 1846, that probably is not original equipment.) ARLHS # CAN-616

The light is at the far end of the point and is within a wildlife preservation area. The only way to see the light is by boat. ARLHS # CAN-580

On the East Breakwater into the river, this light is still West of the main Light ARLHS # CAN-405

End of west pier, accessible only by telephoto lens from main pier. ARLHS # CAN-622

A skeletal tower at the middle of the west pier in Erieau This entrance leads into Rondeau Bay

This light is located at the end of the east pier in Erieau, near Rondeau Provincial Park. It can easily be seen and photographed from the west breakwater in Rondeau Harbour.

Photo courtesy ncattrysse [Webshots]

From 1901 to 1910, SS Kewaunee was assigned to the Southeast Shoal

The reconstructed lighthouse is on the grounds of the Lakeview Park Marina in Windsor, Ontario.

Pelee Island sits almost smack in the middle of Lake Erie. You can only get there by ferry - from either Leamington and Kingsville, Ontario or Sandusky, Ohio. ^ferry ARLHS # CAN-370