Ohio Lighthouses - Lorain

The lighthouse at Lorian, Ohio. 10/8/25 dwm

Lorain was the first lighthouse west of Cleveland and the next stop along Lake Erie.

 

We decided to drive past the lights off shore in downtown Cleveland, choosing less congestion and a better opportunity to get close to the lights.

 

The first light to aid navigation was a lantern hung from a pole at the mouth of the Black River in the early 1800s, according to it's history of the Lorain lighthouse. 

 

In 1836, a cylindrical brick tower capped with a lantern room was built at the end of a pier that extended from the west bank of the Black River.

 

The view from the Hot Waters Pier. 10/8/2025 dwm

 There were four lighthouses that served ships in the long stretch between the lights in Cleveland and at Marblehead.

 

 In 1913, Congress finally approved funds to build a proper light and fog signal on the west breakwater pier head. The work began in 1916.

 

 By the end of that year, a concrete base was poured and a gas-powered light was set in place at the top of construction site.

 

 The new light went into service April 7, 1919. The big three-story house had a basement with a cistern to hold water, coal bin, and storage space. The first floor housed the power room, a bathroom, and storeroom. 

 

A living room, pantry, bedrooms, and a tank room (to hold water) were on the second story. The third floor was where the speakers were for the fog signal, storage, and the stairs into the lantern room.

 

The view from Lakeview Beach in Lorain. 10/8/25 dwm

Lightkeepers took care of the light until 1939 when the Coast Guard took over the operation until 1965 when a new modern tower (at left in above photo) was put in place as part of $22-million dollars of improvements for the Lorain port.

 

At that point, the lighthouse was destined for demolition. Local citizens rallied to preserve the light and a string of storms that popped up whenever demolition had been scheduled, saved the light.

 

Finally, in 1977, the Lorain County Historical Society became the owner of the lighthouse. 

In 1981, the first of several efforts to preserve and restore the lighthouse began and ultimately a new not for profit, the Port of Lorain Foundation was establish to take care of the lighthouse and the city's waterfront. The breakwater where the lighthouse stands is not continuous, so the light is not accessible by foot and the house doesn't appear to be regularly open to the public.

 

The Lorain Lighthouse is known as the "Jewel of the Port." 10/8/2025 dwm

The Lorain lighthouse (right) and its replacement (left). 10/8/2025 dwm

Looking at the lighthouse through a tree at Lakeview Beach park. 10/8/2025 dwm photo