National Register of Historic Places

Erie Land Lighthouse

Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
Listed
March 29, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78002397

About this property

The Erie Land Light, also known as the Old Presque Isle Light, is a lighthouse on the shore of Lake Erie in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is one of the three lighthouses in Erie, along with the Presque Isle Light and the North Pier Light. The lighthouse is situated on the bluffs overlooking the lake in Lighthouse Park east of downtown Erie. The lighthouse was originally constructed in 1818 becoming one of the first to be built by the United States on the Great Lakes. The tower was replaced in 1851 for the first time; in 1858, due to its poor foundations and soil quality, it sank into the ground. The current structure was built in 1867 and remained in service until 1880. It was reactivated five years later before being permanently decommissioned in 1899. Both the lenses and lantern were eventually removed. The Erie Land Light was sold to the city of Erie in 1934 and was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in 1936. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Location

Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
42.14374, -80.06287

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Erie Armory
Industrial
1.1 mi
Federal Row
Early Republic
1.3 mi
Dickson Tavern
Early Republic
1.4 mi
Cashiers House and Coach House (Boundary Increase)
Industrial
1.4 mi
Adams, C.F., Building
Industrial
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Erie Land Lighthouse listed on the National Register?

Erie Land Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 29, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Erie Land Lighthouse?

Erie Land Lighthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Erie Land Lighthouse?

The period of significance for Erie Land Lighthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Erie Land Lighthouse?

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