The Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse Shines a Light on Great Lakes History

Standing in the pilothouse of the decommissioned freighter Frontenac, visitors to the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse can gaze out over Lake Erie, imagining the area as it may have looked to sailors during the early 20th century.

The site itself has been a part of local history for 200 years. The original brick lighthouse was built in 1825 and was later rebuilt nearly 50 years later using Berea sandstone. From 1871 to 1925, this 60-foot-tall lighthouse guided ships, helping them navigate along the shore. In 1925, the lighthouse was decommissioned and was at risk of being demolished.

“The village rallied around it and managed to keep it from being torn down,” says Marty O’Gara, president of the Fairport Harbor Historical Society. “They formed the Fairport Harbor Historical Society and went about turning it into a museum.”

Since the organization formed in 1945, the Fairport Harbor Marine Museum has been open to the public, showcasing a wide range of maritime artifacts, including the pilothouse of the Frontenac, complete with original navigation equipment, as well as the mast from the USS Michigan, one of the first iron-hull warships in the U.S. Navy, and local memorabilia.

Two interactive touchscreens round out the visitor experience. The larger screen features a navigable map of the Great Lakes that visitors can use to explore the surrounding area, while a smaller kiosk offers information on Fairport Harbor’s beaches, military history and personal accounts of historic events (such as the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald), the
Underground Railroad and other topics. There is also a spiral staircase that leads visitors up to the top of the lighthouse, giving them an incredible view of Lake Erie and the surrounding town of Fairport Harbor.

“This year, we’re celebrating the 200th anniversary of our lighthouse site,” O’Gara says. “We hope to continue our mission of preserving and sharing the history of Fairport Harbor and the Great Lakes for generations to come.”

Visitors can take part in this milestone celebration with special events all summer long, including a boat parade and fleet blessing on June 14.

129 Second St., Fairport Harbor 44077, 440/354-4825, fairportharborlighthouse.org

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