COLUMBUS, OH - The waters of Lake Erie have splashed at its sturdy tower for nearly two centuries. And for just as long the Marblehead Lighthouse on Ottawa County’s Marblehead Peninsula has guided passing boats and caught the eyes of admiring passersby. Beginning in June, the curious can once again get up close to the soaring 67-foot limestone landmark.
Weekday tours are being offered at the lighthouse starting June 1 through September 2. The tours are from 1 to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tours also will be given the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 11, July 9, August 13 and September 10. Tours are conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary.
The 183-year-old lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, is the centerpiece of Marblehead Lighthouse State Park at the mouth of the Sandusky Bay. It has been the subject of a commemorative U.S. postage stamp and is featured on Ohio's Lake Erie license plate. The park grounds surrounding the lighthouse offer excellent areas to picnic as well as spectacular views of the lake, Sandusky Bay, Kelleys Island and South Bass Island.
A museum, located in the Keeper's House and operated by the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society, is open whenever the tower is open. It features the original Fresnel lens, which magnified the light of a single kerosene lantern atop the lighthouse in the mid and late 1800s. This specialized, curved glass lens created a highly visible, fixed white light.
The lighthouse has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822. 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.
Through history, 15 lighthouse keepers, two of whom were women, have tended the beacon. The keeper was charged with making sure the lighthouse stayed lit, as well as keeping a log of passing ships, noting the weather conditions, and organizing rescue efforts.
In 1923, an electric light finally replaced the kerosene lantern, dramatically increasing the power of the signal. During World War II, the lighthouse became strategically important for national defense. The last civilian lighthouse keeper resigned, and the United States Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the beacon in 1946. The beacon was automated in 1958, making the Coast Guard’s job easier.
Today’s 300 mm lens projects a green signal that flashes every six seconds and is visible for 11 nautical miles. The distinctive green distinguishes the lighthouse signal from the white lights of aircraft in the area.
Since taking ownership of the Marblehead Lighthouse in 1998, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has invested more than $3,000,000 to rehabilitate the lighthouse and nearby Keeper's House, as well as acquire additional surrounding property.
Other attractions near the park include state parks at Catawba Island, Kelleys Island, South Bass Island, Middle Bass Island, East Harbor and Crane Creek. The parks offer a variety of accommodations and outdoor activities, all of which can be found online at ohiodnr.com
For information about tours at Marblehead Lighthouse call 419-734-4424, extension No. 2.