Presque Isle Light

The Presque Isle Light is one of three lighthouses on Lake Erie in U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The lighthouse is located on the northern shore of Presque Isle State Park, near Erie. It was built in 1872 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

For the lighthouses in Michigan, see Old Presque Isle Light and New Presque Isle Light.
Presque Isle Light
LocationPresque Isle State Park, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates42°9′56.8″N 80°6′55.5″W
Year first constructed1872
Year first lit1873
Automated1962
Tower shapeSquare
Markings / patternWhite
Tower height68 ft (21 m)
Focal height73 ft (22 m)
Original lens4th order Fresnel
Range16 nmi (18 mi; 30 km)
CharacteristicIso W 6s
ARLHS numberUSA-666
USCG number7-3690
Heritageplace listed on the National Register of Historic Places 
DesignatedAugust 4, 1983
Part ofUnited States Coast Guard Lighthouses and Light Stations on the Great Lakes Thematic Resource
Reference no.83002242[1]

History
Presque Isle Light in 1885

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.

The Presque Isle Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 1983 as part of a group listing of lighthouses and light stations operated by the United States Coast Guard on the Great Lakes. The light station is open to public tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day on weekends, weather permitting (see presqueislelighthouse.org).[1][3][4]

See also

References
  1. "NPS Focus". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  2. "Presque Isle Lighthouse". Sea the Lights. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  3. Board of Directors Presque Isle Light Station
  4. Hyde 1979, § 7, p. 2.

Sources

Further reading
  • Oleszewski, Wes (1998). Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory / Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses. Gwinn, MI: Avery Color Studios. ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
  • United States Coast Guard (1957). Historically Famous Lighthouses. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  • Wright, Larry; Patricia Wright (2006). Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia. Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1-55046-399-3.

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