Grosse Point Light

Evanston, Illinois, USA

Lake Michigan

One of only eight National Historic Landmarks, Grosse Point Light has a 113 foot tall tower and Second Order Fresnel Lens. The brick tower was reinforced with concrete in 1914 to strengthen it. The tower connects to the keeper's residence via a brick passageway.

In 1871, Congress appropriated $35,000 to construct this light, adjoining keeper's quarters, and two for signal buildings. The light was first lit in 1873, automated in 1935, and decommissioned in 1941. It is located 13 miles north of downtown Chicago on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The facility is now operated jointly by the Evanston Lighthouse Park District and the Evanston Historical Society. Tours and interpretive programs are offered during the summer months. If you want to visit this light, drive east to the end of Central Avenue in Evanston.

If you could peek inside a second order Fresnel lens, it might look like this. This lens is shaped like a bee hive, and is approximately 6 feet high and 3½ feet across. The Fresnel lens is named after Augustin Fresnel, who invented it in France in the 1820's. His design uses a system of circular prisms to intensify and focus the light from a single lamp. The prisms work in such a way that instead of the light going out in all directions, it is bent and the beams go out parallel to the water.

Only five Second Order Fresnel lens were installed on the Great Lakes. They were placed at Spectacle Reef, Grosse Point, Stannard Rock, White Shoal, and Rock of Ages. The lens at Stannard Rock was destroyed in an explosion during the 1960s. Spectacle Reef's lens was removed in 1982 and is displayed at the Great Lakes Historical Society museum in Vermilion, Ohio. White Shoal's lens was removed in 1983 and is on display at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Museum in Whitefish Point, Michigan. Only the lens at Grosse Point remains installed in its original lighthouse tower.

Here's a closeup of the lamp at Grosse Point Light. It is a high-wattage electric bulb like those used in movie projectors. Note that the bulb is mounted on a turntable, to allow a replacement to quickly swing into position when the first bulb burns out. Also notice that the replacement bulb is missing, which isn't a very effective strategy!