Erie Land Lighthouse

The History of the Erie Land Lighthouse

The First Light

The Erie Land Lighthouse, as it is now commonly referred to as, was the first commissioned lighthouse along the Great Lakes.

The light was positioned on a cliff overlooking the entrance to Presque Isle Bay, which is now the foot of Lighthouse Street in Erie, PA. The original structure was a 20-foot-high square wooden tower with an enclosed lantern room. The lamp that would light the way for ships was a nine-lamp array that was fueled by whale oil.

The lighthouse's location was strategically chosen at the entrance of what was then an 's' shaped entrance to the bay and the port of Erie. Presque Isle is a dynamic landmass that has changed significantly over time. In the early 1800s, submerged sandbars had made entering the bay nearly impassable. A proposal to engineer a uniform channel depth was made to Congress around the same time at funds were secured to construction the Land Lighthouse.

This lighthouse aided travelers for nearly 50 years before the structure began to fail. Over time, the lighthouse started to lean. Metal bands were placed around the light to attempt to stabilize it, but these efforts for unsuccessful and it was clear the tower needed to be replaced.

Of Brick and Stone

In 1857 a new tower was constructed. The new tower was 56 feet high, round, and constructed of “Cream City Bricks” from Milwaukee with a spiral cast iron staircase and a 16 ft lantern room.

The soft ground and poor foundation proved to be a problem and 10 years later, in 1867, the current lighthouse was constructed 200 feet east of the original site. To ensure this light's longevity, it was constructed with a 20-foot foundation of oak timbers, crushed limestone, and Portland cement to support the round brick tower with Berea sandstone exterior. A third order Fresnel lens was installed that had a focal plane of 128 above the lake and could be seen 15 miles out into the lake.

A Light Extinguished

The lighthouse operated until 1880 when, based on the recommendation of the inspector of the Tenth Lighthouse District, it was discontinued. The property then fell into private hands for a short time until, after public protest, Congress appropriated $7,000 for the reestablishment of the lighthouse in 1884. The light remained active until 1899 when it was finally closed. The lens was removed a few years later and is now at the Marblehead Lighthouse in Sandusky, OH.

Today, the Erie Land Lighthouse has been restored thanks to the efforts of the City of Erie and the Erie Port Authority. While no longer an active aid to navigation, the site provides spectacular views of Lake Erie and Presque Isle and is open to visitors seasonally.