Presque Isle Lighthouse Travel Guide

The Presque Isle Lighthouse stands as a testament to Erie's rich maritime history. Constructed in 1872 and completed in 1873, the lighthouse was built to replace the Erie Land Lighthouse and to better mark the navigational hazard of the Presque Isle Peninsula. Originally intended to be built of limestone, bricks were used instead due to cost considerations. During construction, a storm caused a scow carrying 6,000 bricks to lose its load into Lake Erie; bricks from this lost shipment continue to wash ashore to this day.The lighthouse tower is a square brick structure, originally 40 feet high, with an additional 17 feet added in 1896 to extend the light's reach. The tower's interior is circular, with 78 steps leading to the top. The attached dwelling, once home to the lighthouse keepers and their families, has nine rooms and reflects a 19th-century French architectural design. Over time, the lighthouse has seen many changes, including the replacement of the original Fresnel lens with a modern beacon in 1962.Today, the Presque Isle Lighthouse is a museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can explore the lighthouse grounds, tour the keeper's dwelling, and climb to the top of the tower for panoramic views of Lake Erie and Presque Isle State Park. The Presque Isle Light Station Board, a non-profit organization, opened the station to the public in 2015 and continues to make improvements.