Presque Isle Lighthouse is located on the shore of Lake Erie in Erie, Pennsylvania. It began operation in 1873 to serve as an essential navigational aid on the lake but would eventually outlive that purpose. Rather than be discarded, it has been transformed into a monument that celebrates the history of the region.
Turning a Lighthouse into a Museum
What would become the Presque Isle Lighthouse was commissioned by the Lighthouse Service to replace Erie Land Lighthouse in 1870. It would come into service in 1873, the same year that a Fresnel lens was added. By 1949 the light in the tower was automated by the U.S. Coast Guard. It would be one of the 17 declared government surplus by the Coast Guard in January 1997. This compelled it to be deeded to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in 1998.
Retained as a house for state park officials for many years after it was acquired, Presque Isle Lighthouse went through a transformation in 2014 that would see it restored and turned into a museum. The lighthouse was reopened to the public for tours in the summer of 2015. As part of this transformation, visitors were able to walk through the restored lighthouse to experience the history it contains and even climb to the top for an incredible view of the area.
Admission and tickets provide an important source of revenue along with the many items for sale in the gift shop. As a further illustration of the positive economic and cultural impact it has enabled, Presque Isle Lighthouse was depicted on a “special organization” Pennsylvania license plate that benefited the Presque Isle Partnership.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, Presque Isle Lighthouse represents a significant piece of history for the region. Rather than continue to serve as a non-descript office or be displaced as a relic of another era, it has instead been able to cultivate engagement for residents and visitors in a way that will impact audiences in the present and future.
Experiencing a Legacy
After being restored to appear as it did in the late-1800s and early-1900s, Presque Isle Light has been further connected to the legacy of the entire region to become an icon that is recognized all across Erie. Audiences are able to experience this legacy in the midst of the natural beauty of Presque Isle, highlighting how the transformation of a space can connect audiences to a piece of history in a way that spans space and time.
