Charlotte–Genesee Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | 70 Lighthouse St., Rochester, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°15′10″N 77°36′40″W / 43.25278°N 77.61111°W |
| Year first lit | 1822 |
| Deactivated | Active |
| Construction | Stone, white tower |
| Tower shape | Octagonal |
| Height | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 9 nautical miles (17 km; 10 mi) |
| Characteristic | White, Fixed |
The Charlotte–Genesee Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse built in 1822. It is located in the Charlotte neighborhood of northern Rochester, New York, in the United States. This lighthouse stands on the shore of Lake Ontario, right where the Genesee River flows into the lake.
The lighthouse tower is made of stone and has eight sides, which is why it's called "octagonal." It is about 40 feet (12 meters) tall. When it was first built, it used 10 lamps that burned whale oil to create its light. Later, in 1853, these lamps were replaced with a special type of lens called a Fresnel lens, which made the light much brighter and more efficient.
Contents
A Light's Journey
Why the Light Moved
The Charlotte–Genesee Lighthouse was turned off on February 28, 1881. This happened because the mouth of the Genesee River changed over time. New piers were built nearby, and the lighthouse ended up being too far from the water to be useful for guiding ships. Because of this, the main light was moved to a pier in 1884.
Saving the Lighthouse
Students Make a Difference
In 1965, the lighthouse was in danger of being torn down. But students from Charlotte High School decided to do something about it! They started a letter-writing campaign to save the historic building. Their efforts helped protect the lighthouse.
A Museum Today
The government declared the lighthouse "surplus" in 1981, meaning it was no longer needed for its original purpose. Today, the lighthouse is owned by Monroe County, New York. It is managed as a museum by a group called the Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society. This group is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The Charlotte–Genesee Lighthouse is part of the Seaway Trail, which is a special road route known as a National Scenic Byway. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical site. The City of Rochester also considers it a landmark.
You can visit the lighthouse today! It is open to the public. Even though it's a museum, the lighthouse is still active. As of 2014, it was listed by the United States Coast Guard as light number 2333. This means it still helps guide boats on Lake Ontario.
