Dunkirk Light facts for kids
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| Location | 1 Lighthouse Point Drive, Dunkirk, New York, Point Gratiot on Lake Erie |
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| Coordinates | 42°29′38″N 79°21′14″W / 42.49389°N 79.35389°W |
| Year first lit | 1875 |
| Automated | 1960 |
| Foundation | Dressed Stone |
| Construction | Rubblestone encased in brick |
| Tower shape | Square |
| Markings / pattern | Upper 2/3 White, lower 1/3 natural, Red Lantern |
| Focal height | 82 feet (25 m) |
| Original lens | Third Order Fresnel lens |
| Characteristic | Occulting White 4 seconds |
The Dunkirk Lighthouse, also known as the Point Gratiot Light, is an active lighthouse. It stands at Point Gratiot on Lake Erie in New York state.
The first lighthouse was built here in 1826. The current tower was first lit in 1875. In 1960, the lighthouse became automated, meaning it no longer needed a keeper. It still works today!
The lighthouse base is made of strong stone. The tower itself is built from rough stone covered in brick. It has a square shape. The top two-thirds are white, and the bottom third shows the natural stone. The light room, called the lantern, is red.
Inside, the lighthouse uses a special lens called a Fresnel lens. This lens was put in the original 1826 lighthouse in 1857. It is still in use today, which is very rare! Only about 70 such lenses are still working in the United States. Sixteen of these are on the Great Lakes, and two are in New York. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
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Discovering the Dunkirk Lighthouse's History
The Dunkirk Lighthouse has a long and interesting past. Before the current tower was built, the old one was in bad shape.
Why a New Lighthouse Was Needed
In 1868, a report said the old lighthouse was falling apart. The keeper's house leaked, and the tower had cracks. The beacon tower was also decaying.
Another report in 1874 warned that the old tower was very dangerous. Large pieces of its outer wall could fall off at any time. It was urgent to build a new tower quickly.
The Valuable Fresnel Lens
The special Fresnel lens from the first lighthouse was moved to the new 1875 tower. This lens is very old and valuable. Today, it is worth about $1.5 million.
Changes Over Time
In 1960, when the lighthouse became automated, the assistant keeper's house was taken down. After the lighthouse was automated, local people worked together. They bought the property and fixed up the building. Now, it is a lighthouse and veteran's museum run by volunteers.
In 2022, plans were approved to add a pavilion. This new building will be used for weddings and other outdoor events.
How the Lighthouse Guides Ships
The Dunkirk Lighthouse worked with another light to guide ships. This other light was called the Dunkirk Pier-head light. It helped ships enter the Dunkirk harbor safely. The assistant lighthouse keeper used to operate this pier-head light.
The Pier-head Lights
There have been five different towers for the pier-head light. The first two were destroyed by ice from the lake. The third one was removed in 1939. It was replaced by a metal tower.
Later, the metal tower was replaced by the light you see today. The old metal tower now sits on the Dunkirk Lighthouse property.
Exploring the Veteran's Museum
The second floor of the original keeper's house is now a veteran's museum. It has four rooms, each dedicated to a branch of the armed forces. There is also a separate building with items from the Coast Guard.
The hallway features an exhibit about the Vietnam War. Most of the items in the museum were given by local people. Some were also donated by the United States Coast Guard.
Visiting the Dunkirk Lighthouse
The Dunkirk Lighthouse is open for visitors during certain times of the year. You can visit from May through October.
Tour Information
In the spring and fall, the lighthouse is open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. In the summer, it is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Guided tours let you climb to the top of the lighthouse. You can also tour the keeper's house, the Veteran's Museum, and visit the gift shop.
Special Events
The lighthouse also offers private ghost investigations. Public ghost tours are held in the fall. These are led by local paranormal investigators.
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has old souvenir postcards of lighthouses. They have many online, including some of the Dunkirk Lighthouse. These postcards even link to special nautical charts.
