Oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the American side of the Great Lakes.
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Gps Coordinates / 41.5365768,-82.7124313
Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society VR Marblehead
110 Lighthouse Dr, Marblehead, OH 43440, United States
Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Ohio, United States, is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the American side of the Great Lakes. It has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822, and is an active aid to navigation.
An electric light finally replaced the kerosene lantern in 1923
Gps Coordinates / 41.5365852,-82.7120002
In 1819, the fifteenth U. S. Congress recognized the need for navigational aides along the Great Lakes and set aside $5,000 for construction of a light tower at the entrance to Sandusky Bay.
During World War II, the lighthouse became strategically important for national defense.
Link Location Gps / Gps Link -82.7126308 / Gps Link -82.7117326 / Gps Link -82.7132206
Gps Coordinates / 41.5364179,-82.7126308 / 41.5362989,-82.7117326 / 41.5362914,-82.7132206
In 1821, contractor William Kelly built the 50-foot tower of native limestone on the tip of the Marblehead Peninsula. The base of the tower is 25 feet in diameter, with walls 5 feet thick. It narrows to 12 feet at the top, with 2-foot thick walls.
Link Location Gps / Gps Link -82.7109666 / Gps Link -82.7115324 / Gps Link -82.711935
Gps Coordinates / 41.536457,-82.7109666 / 41.5364769,-82.7115324 / 41.5360888,-82.711935
After completion of the lighthouse and also an adjacent stone "keeper's house" in 1821, Wolcott and his family moved into that official "keeper's house". Each night, he lit the wicks of the 13 whale oil lamps that were the original light fixture (composed of multiple metal reflectors, each sixteen inches (406 mm in diameter), which helped project the light across the lake.
In 2001-2002 the state renovated the tower and keeper's house at a cost of $500,000.
Gps Coordinates / 41.536416,-82.7129013
The Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society operates the Marblehead Lighthouse Museum in the old keeper's house. Exhibits include the lighthouse, a Fresnel lens, ice harvesting, ice fishing, local maritime industry, ships, replica Lifesaving Station, local fossils and shipwrecks.
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