Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Lake Michigan

The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is constructed on a concrete cassion located at the end of an offshore breakwater. Access to this light is only by water. It once had a Third Order Fresnel lens that was considered so special that it was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition and also at the 1891 Columbia Exhibition in Chicago. The red and white-paneled lens won awards at both exhibitions.

Although it now serves as a private residence, the U.S. Coast Guard still maintains this light. It is centrally located in the Chicago harbor immediately east of downtown.

Built in 1832, this light shares honors with the St. Joseph Lights as the oldest on Lake Michigan. It was automated in 1978. Before that, this light had three keepers, each with his own semi-circular bedroom in the tower. The keeper with the least seniority got the top bedroom, which was located closest to a fog horn that sounded every 20 seconds when in use.

The light is built upon a 40' x 100' concrete base that sits behind a barrier of large quarried stone blocks. The light source is two rotating 24" optics, each illuminated by 1000-watt bulbs. When a bulb burns out, a sensing circuit detects the failure and automatically swings a replacement bulb into position.