The Lighthouses of Lake Erie

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.

Jeremy D'Entremont has written an excellent report on the two range lights for the April 2006 Lighthouse Digest.

Photo courtesy Dave Wobser [boatnerd]

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.

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.

Alone on an island in Lake Frances, it is unlikely that any boat will need illumination from this lighthouse.  (This is technically a faux light, it has always been decorative, not functional.)

Photo courtesy Pinehurst [Flickr]

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

Photo courtesy Dave Wobser [boatnerd]

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.)

The 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.

Located on West Sister Island, roughly midway between Toledo and Put-In-Bay and eight miles from shore.

Photo courtesy US Coast Guard [wikipedia]

ferry from Catawba or Port Clinton

Photo courtesy PumkinsMom [Webshots] 

This lighthouse is on the peninsula just north of Sandusky and is in a beautiful location.

Located in Lighthouse Point a collection of lakeside cottages at the northern end of Cedar Point (thus, within the amusement park), a peninsula near Sandusky.

Photo courtesy Brandon M Cirillo [Flickr]

Located at the end of the pier on the west side of the entrance to the Huron River near Huron.  From Ohio route 6, turn north on Tiffin Avenue to Nickle Plate Beach.

Connected with a 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.

The best view is from the city pier (off US 6 on the east side of the river) or from Lakeview park (about a mile west of the river on US6.  Or, you can sit at your table in the Jackalope Lakeside (near the pier)

The best way to view this light is from the Goodtime III, which offers cruises of the Cleveland Harbor and Cuyahoga River. Distant views of the light are from VoinovichPark at the East Ninth Street Pier, right behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame  The lighthouse can likely also be viewed while enjoying lunch or dinner aboard the Nautica Queen. We took this photo at the base of the Brown's stadium.

From Interstate 90/Highway 2, take the East 55th Street)Exit, and go northeast to Cleveland Lakefront State Park, where you will see the light at the end of the offshore breakwater.

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].

At the end of a breakwater accessed only through a Coast Guard Station, this is best seen from a boat.  We took this picture from the Harbor beach park

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.

Photo courtesy Ronnie [Flickr]

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.

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.

This light is part of a maritime museum that was closed when we visited.  As such, the view is pretty restricted.  During the summer, when the museum is open, the trees pretty well obscure the light as well.

If you are coming from the Buffalo Main Lighthouse, just drive south on Fuhrmann Boulevard for about 3 miles to just beyond Tift Street.  It's necessary to get on the foot bridge across the canal to see lighthouse

Well out in the channel, this is a unique lighthouse, but difficult to see.  It is intended as a fresh water intake, but protected by a light.  This photo is taken from the Buffalo Main Light.

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.

We're guessing this light was moved from the southern tip of Grand Island, but haven't found any verification of that fact.  It currently is located in a Yacht Club at the corner of Bush and East River drive.  The light is located within the Club on private property, but on a quiet Wednesday morning in April, nobody objected to us parking in their lot and taking a few pictures.

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

Photo courtesy Dave Johnson [Flickr]
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Located at the end of the West Pier near Canal Feeder Road in Port Maitland.

Photo courtesy mineral108 [Webshots]

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

This used to protect a channel through the island that is now out of service.  It is a private residence now.

Standing 65 feet tall, this lighthouse is constructed of wood.  During most of the year, there is a maritime museum adjacent that is quite interesting.

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]

The lighthouse marks the eastern end of the Pelee Passage and the beginning of the shallow portions of Lake Erie.

Accessible by boat only.

Photo by Captain R. L. Corbett courtesy [boatnerd]

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.

Photo courtesy David and Renee Witte [Webshots]