Lighthouses in Erie PA

Did you know that Pennsylvania only has 4 lighthouses, and that only three of them are active and on the shoreline of our very own Lake Erie? Do you know where all four are or which ones are active? People travel hundreds of miles to see these beautifully restored structures from all over the country but you may take them for granted being in our own back yard. If you get a moment to take a drive to the lake, remember to check out the lighthouses and support these beautiful pieces of history. It could be fun to make a visit to each and say you visited all the lighthouses in Pennsylvania!

Erie Harbor North Pier Light

The Erie Harbor North Pier Light, also known as the Presque Isle North Pier Light, is one of the three lighthouses near Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States. The light, situated at the far eastern end of Presque Isle State Park, helps mariners as they traverse the narrow inlet between Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. Originally constructed as a wooden tower in 1830, that light was swept away by a schooner in 1857. The current structure was forged in France and assembled on site in Erie. It was moved in 1882 and again in 1940. The United States Coast Guard, which operates the beacon, changed its fixed red beam to an automated red flashing light in 1995, at which time the 4th order Fresnel lens was sent to the Erie Maritime Museum.

Presque Isle Light

The Presque Isle Light is one of the three lighthouses in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1872 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 1983.Its construction began in 1872, and the light was first lit on July 12, 1873. It was originally 40 feet (12 m) tall before the tower was raised to its current height in 1896. Its original light characteristic, two red flashes followed by four white flashes, was changed to an alternating red and white flash when it was electrified in the 1920s. The Presque Isle Light was commonly known as the "flashlight" to locals.[2] In 1962, the station was fully automated and the characteristic was changed to a 3 second-on, 3 second-off white light.

 

Erie Land Light

The Erie Land Light, also known as the Old Presque Isle Light, is a 49-foot (15 m) lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is one of the three lighthouses in Erie, along with the Presque Isle Light and the North Pier Light. The lighthouse is located in Lighthouse Park at the end of Lighthouse Street. The lighthouse was originally built in 1818, but the tower was replaced twice. The current structure was built in 1867 and was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1978. (from wikipedia)