A Historic Landmark on The National Register of Historic Places

In Evanston, IL stands the Grosse Point Lighthouse almost hidden among the surrounding houses and trees. Construction of this 112 feet tall brick tower was completed in 1873. The tower tapers from a diameter of twenty-two feet at its base to thirteen feet three inches at the parapet. The lantern room houses a second-order Fresnel lens, and focal plane of the light is 121 feet above the lake. An adjoining duplex keeper's dwelling and two brick fog signal buildings were also built.

In 1934, the light was converted to electricity and then later automated. This action eliminated the need to man the lighthouse. In 1941 the light was discontinued due to use of other types of navigational aids on the water.

   The city of Evanston acquired the station in 1935 and the tower in1945. In 1946, they reactivated the lighthouse using the original second-order Fresnel lens. The light is classified as a private aid to navigation. 

In 1976, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1999 it was designated a Historic Landmark.

One side of the duplex keepers dwelling now houses a museum for visitors to enjoy.

Tower Survived The 1906 Earthquake

Located on a unique, rugged point North of San Francisco, CA is the Point Bonita Lighthouse.

The original tower and keeper's dwelling, built in 1855, was perched on a ledge approximately 300 feet above the ocean. Its light could be seen from up to 20 miles out to sea, unless heavy fog obscured the beam, and it often did. Almost daily the keepers had to sound the fog signal by firing a cannon mounted outside the tower. Later a 1,500 pound bell replaced the cannon, but the fog and low clouds around the tower remained a problem.

A new light station, pictured, was built at a lower elevation, approximately 100 feet above the ocean. This station included a 33 foot tower, building that housed two steam driven fog signals, storage buildings, and keepers dwelling, The lens from the original lighthouse was moved to the new tower, and in February 1877 the new Point Bonita Lighthouse lamp was lit.

 The new tower survived the April 1906 earthquake that devastated nearby San Francisco, but the keeper's dwelling collapsed after the family escaped.

In the early 1980's, the U.S. Coast Guard automated the light and they continue to maintain it. However, the National Park Service maintains the grounds, and to my knowledge, the lighthouse is open to the public three days a week when weather permits.

Keeper's Dwelling Survived Over One Hundred Forty Years

The Nobska Point Lighthouse is located at Falmouth, MA. Originally the name was spelled "Nobsque." The first lighthouse, built near here in 1829, was a three-room rubble-stone dwelling with an eight-sided lantern mounted on the roof. It perched on the rocky headland at Wood's Hole Harbor. That crude structure was rebuilt in 1849, and then in 1876 it was entirely replaced with the current cylindrical, 40-foot cast-iron tower lined with brick, and topped with the lantern room. The fifth-order lens, installed in the original lighthouse, was replaced with a fourth-order (larger) lens in 1887. The tower stands 87-feet above the water. Initially, the tower was painted brown, but later changed to white and has been so for much of the twentieth century.

When the Bureau of Lighthouses came under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939, those civilian keepers still active were allowed to finish their current tour of service, until 1975, before being replaced by Coast Guard personnel. Nobska Point Light was automated in 1985, and its light flashed every six seconds and visible about 17-miles out at sea.

 In 1988, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For years after automation of the light, the two-story wood frame keepers dwelling sat vacant until it became the family residence of the Commander of Coast Guard Group Woods Hole. He oversaw the agency's operations between Plymouth, MA and the Rhode Island, Connecticut borders. This occupancy ended in 2001. The Coast Guard transferred responsibility for the lighthouse, keeper’s dwelling, and the stations four-acres to the Town of Falmouth in 2016. The town plans to transform the keeper’s dwelling into a maritime museum.