A day at Marblehead Lighthouse

2020 update reflects current park hours, gift shop information and updated links

 

It was Tuesday afternoon, and I was sitting on a rock along Lake Erie’s shore at Marblehead Lighthouse Park near Port Clinton, Ohio. Even though it was a sunny, summer day with plenty of people flocking to visit the Marblehead light, it was quiet enough to simply sit on my rocky perch and listen to myself think for an hour.

Kids climbed the huge rocks dotting Marblehead’s shore while couples enjoyed a few quiet moments together and one man did a little catch-and-release shore fishing. Even as Jet skis and pleasure boats cruised the lake, and a hazy view of Cedar Point amusement park revealed the muted outlines of the park’s tall roller coasters, the scene seemed much quieter than the hectic city at home.

The picturesque Marblehead Lighthouse is not only one of the most-photographed Lake Erie landmarks, but it is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes.

 

Marblehead Light, which began operating in 1822, has a fascinating history  dating from the 1820s when Revolutionary War vet Benajah Wolcott became the light’s first keeper until his death in 1832, when Benajah’s wife Rachel took over as keeper and became the first female light keeper on the Great Lakes.

Today, Ohio Department of Natural Resources owns Marblehead Lighthouse, while the U.S. Coast Guard operates and maintains its modern, automated beacon.

The Marblehead Light is within 150 miles of my home, making it a relatively easy day-trip destination. I’ve been to Marblehead many times, and photographed the tower at different times of the year, but I never had the opportunity to enter the light and ascend the 77 steps to the top of the tower until my recent weekday getaway.

I was thrilled to find volunteers registering visitors for 20-miniute tower tours during my recent visit and eagerly signed up for my chance to climb the tower and snap a few photos from a different vantage point.

Volunteers offer 20-minute tower tours 1:00 to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday from late May through the end of August and on the second Saturday of each month from June through October. Tours are free, but I tucked a couple of dollars into one of the numerous donation boxes dotting the park grounds that raise money for the light tower’s care and maintenance.

Our volunteer docent gathered the 2:20 tour group for a five-minute overview of the light’s history before ushering us to the tower and allowing us to climb the narrow spiral staircase to the top. The last few steps were a claustrophobic squeeze through a narrow porthole-type opening before releasing me through to the light’s platform and a panoramic view of Lake Erie.

Spending even a few minutes atop the tower, feeling the cool lake breeze and imagining the rugged yet beautiful view that keepers like the Wolcotts must have enjoyed in the fleeting moments of beauty between the constant round of lonely and difficult work required to keep the light running, gave me a new appreciation of their efforts. I’m also grateful to those who continue to preserve the light’s legacy so I can enjoy visiting it on a sunny summer day and enjoy a few quiet moments to myself.

2020 Addendum: The lighthouse is still there, and welcomes visitors to view the exterior of the lighthouse, but the Web site for the lighthouse notes that "Due to circumstances related to COVID-19, the park is open, but the buildings will be closed for the summer of 2020 season."

Check out the lighthouse site for the most current information about lighthouse hours and it's gift shop.

© Dominique King 2008 (updated 2020)

Comments

[Natalie]

Funny. I've lived in Ohio almost all of my life, been to Cedar Point a ridiculous amount of times, and LOVE lighthouses...but I've never been to Port Clinton or heard of Marblehead Lighthouse.

I think I'm going to have to visit next summer... thanks for the article!

~N

[Dominique]

Natalie-You'll love Marblehead! It's well worth the drive on out the peninsula.

The thing I haven't done in years is go out to Put-In-Bay, and I've never been out to Kelley's Island. I always think about it when I'm out that way, but I never seem to have the extra time to take the boat on out to the islands. Have you been out to either of those places?

[Natalie]

Nope. Never been to either place. (That's really sad to think about). I've always said I'd make it out there, but never do. *sigh*

[Dominique King]

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