Fairport Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1825. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Situated at the mouth of the Grand River, Fairport Harbor Lighthouse was a beacon that mariners sought out in Lake Erie storms, as well as a ray of hope for some travelers heading north in the first half of the 19th century.

The lighthouse was built in 1825 and rebuilt in 1871, housing the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum & Lighthouse.

The original lighthouse was completed in 1825 with a tower that stood 30 feet high, topped with an octaagonal-shaped iron lantern. A two-story keeper’s house stood nearby.

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Rebuilt in 1871, the tower now stands 60 feet high and has a spiral staircase of 69 steps that leads to an observation platform. In 1925, the tower’s light — a third-order Fresnel lens — was replaced by a combination light and foghorn station that was built on the west breakwater pierhead.

The museum, established in 1945 at the keeper’s house, contains artifacts and displays (including the lighthouse’s original Fresnel lens) that shine a light on life on the Great Lakes, and maritime exhibits. Attached to the museum is the former pilothouse from the Great Lakes ore carrier Frontenac.

Fairport Harbor was not only a hub of commerce and a gateway to the Western Reserve; it became a final stop on the Underground Railroad for those seeking refuge in Canada. Fairport citizens actively made the lighthouse not only a beacon for ships on Lake Erie, but a beacon of freedom for escaped slaves. 

The lighthouse is located at 129 Second St., Fairport Harbor (440) 354-4825.

Ken Drenten is creator and manager of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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