Erie Land Light facts for kids
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 Erie Land Light
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Lighthouse Park Erie, Pennsylvania United States |
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| Coordinates | 42°8′38.1″N 80°3′44.1″W / 42.143917°N 80.062250°W |
| Year first constructed | 1818 |
| Year first lit | 1867 (current tower) |
| Deactivated | 1880–1885, 1899 |
| Construction | Sandstone |
| Tower shape | Conical |
| Height | 48 ft 10 in (15 m) |
| Focal height | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Original lens | Third-order Fresnel |
| Range | 17 nmi (20 mi; 31 km) |
| Characteristic | F W |
| ARLHS number | USA-941 |
The Erie Land Light is a historic lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania. It sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie. People also call it the Old Presque Isle Light. It is one of three lighthouses in Erie. You can find it in Lighthouse Park.
This lighthouse was first built in 1818. It was one of the first lighthouses the United States built on the Great Lakes. The tower was replaced in 1851. In 1858, it started to sink because of poor ground. The lighthouse you see today was built in 1867. It worked until 1880, then was turned back on in 1885. It was permanently turned off in 1899.
Later, its special lenses and top lantern were taken away. The city of Erie bought the lighthouse in 1934. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Contents
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The Erie Land Light has a tower made of sandstone. A small, one-story building is attached to its side. The whole structure is built from Berea sandstone and lined with brick.
The lighthouse tower is about 48 feet (14.8 meters) tall. It is 19 feet (5.8 meters) wide at the bottom. It gets narrower towards the top, where it is 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. Inside the tower, there is a spiral staircase with 69 steps. The balcony where the light once sat is 16 feet (4.9 meters) wide.
How the Light Worked
When the lighthouse was working, its light was powered by mineral oil. It shone a steady, white light. The light was 128 feet (39 meters) above the lake. It could be seen up to 17 nautical miles (31 kilometers) away.
When the current lighthouse was built, it got a special Fresnel lens. This type of lens makes the light much brighter. When the lighthouse was turned off, the lens was moved to another lighthouse. Today, the tower has a modern light for boats.
History of the Erie Land Light
In 1810, the U.S. Congress decided to build two lighthouses on the Great Lakes. One was for Buffalo, New York, and the other was for Erie, Pennsylvania. Land for the Erie lighthouse was given in 1811. Building both lighthouses was delayed until 1818.
Challenges with the Foundation
By 1858, the first lighthouse tower, which was square and 20 feet (6.1 meters) tall, began to sink. The second tower was round and 56 feet (17.1 meters) tall. It was made of brick. Its foundation also had problems and needed to be replaced by 1866.
Investigators found a layer of quicksand under the lighthouse. To make sure the third tower would be strong, its foundation was dug 20 feet (6.1 meters) deep. They used strong oak timbers and a mix of Portland cement and crushed limestone. The third tower was built from sandstone.
The special Fresnel lens for the new tower cost $7,000. It was shipped all the way from Paris, France. A two-story house for the lighthouse keeper was also built at the same time.
Deactivation and Reopening
The Erie Land Light was turned off in 1880. It was sold for $1,800. But many people wanted it back. So, in 1884, the lighthouse was bought again for double the price. It was turned back on in 1885.
In 1886, the lighthouse was turned off again. However, people still looked after it, and the light kept working until December 26, 1899. That's when it was finally turned off for good. The lenses were removed in 1902 and sent to the Marblehead Light in Ohio. After the lantern room was taken off, the top of the tower was covered. The city of Erie took ownership of the lighthouse in 1934.
Modern Use and Restoration Efforts
The Erie Land Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1978. In 1990, a wooden copy of the lantern room was put on the tower. It was lit again on December 26, 1999. Sadly, this wooden lantern room was blown off the tower during a strong windstorm in 2003.
In 2004, money was given for restoration work on the lighthouse. The inside stairs were fixed, and over 200 bricks were replaced. A new, heavy copper copy of the original lantern room was built. This new lantern was lifted onto the lighthouse on March 19, 2004. The restoration was finished on June 19, 2004.
The lighthouse is now open to the public in the summer. This helps raise money for the Erie Playhouse.
