Lighthouses hold a mystery and lure of the sea and waterways. And Chautauqua County has two lighthouses on the shores of Lake Erie reminding visitors and residents alike of the importance of Lake Erie in shipping and its rich history of steam ships.
The Dunkirk Lighthouse, is located in Dunkirk NY in Chautauqua County. Besides the lighthouse there is the adjacent Veterans Park Museum. The lighthouse and museum attract visitors from all over the world and many in the city refer to it as “the jewel of Dunkirk.” The lighthouse is still a working lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built in 1827 on Point Gratiot. The lighthouse worked in conjunction with a pier head beacon to help guide ships safely into the Dunkirk harbor.
Several points of historical interest are associated with the Dunkirk lighthouse. The first shot of the “1812 War” was fired near the west side of the lighthouse. Also the first casualty of the Civil War, Cpl. Cyrus Jones of Dunkirk, was killed in the war. His final resting place is located on the lighthouse grounds.
The Lake Erie waters just off of Dunkirk has had several notorious shipwrecks that are recoded in historical reports.
- 1. The Walk-on-Water was lost in a storm in 1818. This was Lake Erie’s first steamboat.
- 2. The Erie burned with the loss of 141 lives in 1841. 141 lives were lost. The fire was caused by turpentine and varnish that was stored on the deck above the ship’s boilers.
- 3. In 1893 the steamboat, Dean Richmond, sank off Dunkirk. Dunkirk residents salvaged hundreds of bags of damp flour after the wreck. Cargo also included meal, copper sheet and silver and gold bullion.
- 4. The freighter Idaho was destroyed in 1897 just above Long Point during a gale. Nineteen lost their lives and two deckhands were rescued.
The 61-foot lighthouse tower still has its original third order Fresnel lens, which was installed in 1857. The light was made and imported from Paris France and cost $10,000 at that time. The light’s 21-mile range makes the Dunkirk lighthouse one of the most prominent on Lake Erie.
In 1874 the tower was in desperate need of repair. A 61-foot stone tower and a Victorian residence were constructed to replace the original tower in 1875-76. The original structure was damaged from erosion and needed immediate repair.
Bricks from the original keeper’s house formed the foundation for the new house. The old cylindrical tower was moved near the lighthouse keeper’s residence and a square tower was built around the old tower. These building still stand and form the lighthouse, Veteran’s Park Museum and grounds as they are known today.
photo credit: Reza Vaziri
Although the “Dunkirk” is still in use, it is again in dire need of repair and restoration. Erosion is again creating problems with the structure and the town is trying to raise the funds to complete the repairs. It is reported that 190 feet on the bank of the Lighthouse has washed away with 1 1/2 to 2 feet washing away everyday.
The Dunkirk lighthouse today:
Light House Specifications
- Country: United States
- State: New York
- City: Dunkirk
- County: Chautauqua
- Body of Water: Lake Erie / Great Lakes
- U.S.C.G. District: 9
- Current Use: Active – Aid to Navigation
- Latitude: 42.4936
- Longitude: 79.3537
- Lighthouse No: USA 248
- Range: approximately 21miles
More information is available on the lighthouse at the Dunkirk Lighthouse website
The lighthouse stands out on Lake Erie and is one of my favorite places to visit. The historical value and history of the lighthouse adds to Chautauqua County and Lake Erie.
