Marblehead Lighthouse State Park

Marblehead Lighthouse State Park is a STATE PARK! This fact was something I have recently discovered. I have been to this lighthouse dozens of times and I had no idea. It is one of the oldest lighthouse (or it might be the oldest) in operation on the Great Lakes. Growing up on Lake Erie, this was an area that we have traveled to every summer for vacation, and loved visiting. It is a nice low key area for vacation. You will find everything you need for a nice pleasant trip:

1. Beach AND pool

2. Numerous restaurants and bars

        (My husband and I would highly recommend Dock's Beach House.)

3. Popcorn shop (come on it's vacation!)

4. Access to travel to the islands (Kelley's Island, South/Middle Bass Island, Catawaba Island)

5. Short drive to Cedar Point for your amusement

But really... what else would you need for a nice low key vacation?

According to OhioDNR, "Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822. In 1819, the 15th U. S. Congress recognized the need for navigational aides along the Great Lakes, and set aside $5,000 to construct a light tower at the entrance to Sandusky Bay. Contractor William Kelly built the 50-foot tower of native limestone on the tip of the Marblehead Peninsula. The base of the tower is 25 feet in diameter, with walls 5 feet thick. It narrows to 12 feet at the top with 2-foot thick walls.

Throughout its history, 15 lighthouse keepers, two of whom were women, have tended the beacon. The first keeper was Benajah Wolcott, a Revolutionary War veteran and one of the first settlers on the peninsula. He and his family lived in a small stone home on the Sandusky Bay side of the peninsula. Each night, he lit the wicks of the 13 whale oil lamps that were the original light fixture. Sixteen-inch-diameter metal reflectors helped project the light across the lake. Other duties of the lighthouse keeper included keeping a log of passing ships, noting the weather conditions, and organizing rescue efforts. Upon Wolcott's death in 1832, his wife, Rachel, took over these duties.

A lifesaving station was built one-half mile west of the lighthouse in 1876. Lucien Clemons, who with his two brothers saved two sailors from a shipwreck off the peninsula on May 1, 1875, was named the first commander. In 1880 the lighthouse keeper's family moved out of the 1821 limestone house on the lighthouse grounds to a newly-built two-story wooden frame house on the property. The former house was then demolished.

Between 1897 and 1903, the tower's height was increased 15 feet by the addition of a watchroom and new lantern room. A new, larger rotating Fresnel lens apparatus powered by a clockwork produced a bright flash of light every 10 seconds. Through the night, the keeper had to crank the weight to the top and adjust the timing every three hours to keep the lens rotating on schedule.

Modern conveniences came slowly to the timeless light tower. An electric light finally replaced the kerosene lantern in 1923, dramatically increasing the candlepower of the signal. During World War II, the lighthouse became strategically important for national defense. The last civilian lighthouse keeper resigned and the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the beacon in 1946.

The beacon was automated in 1958, making the Coast Guard's job easier. With its original finish tattered by time and harsh weather, the exterior of the lighthouse tower was given a fresh coat of new stucco the same year.

ODNR has maintained the property surrounding the lighthouse since 1972 and proudly accepted ownership of the Marblehead Lighthouse tower in May 1998. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to operate and maintain the lighthouse beacon. Today's technology features a new LED light projecting a green signal that flashes every six seconds and is visible for 11 nautical miles. The distinctive green distinguishes the lighthouse signal from white lights coming from air beacons."

"Marblehead's beloved beacon continues to shine and protect boaters from peril in Lake Erie's unpredictable waters along her rocky shores."

I know that is a lot of history, but it is so interesting to me. I never knew how important this lighthouse was that I had visited so many times before. A childhood tradition that morphed into an adult one, we have made this trip as a family three times now, and while this last trip was the oddest (COVID), it is still one of my favorite trips that I have taken. We stay in a condo with a view of Lake Erie and a private pool and wake up to the sun. We can take a trip to an island or walk around the cute little town we stay in. I highly recommend it! If you would like to learn more about Marblehead Lighthouse click here. I also have some fun printables that I took with us on the trip if you would like to snag those: color by number, maze, and how to draw a lighthouse with printable here.

@LoveLearnCreate.com also has a lighthouse craft with printable. Website PDF

You can even walk down to the water and toss in some rocks for fun.

Or take pictures with the scenic background! Close around the corner to the lighthouse is my husband's FAVORITE experience of our vacation, total sarcasm, but the boys love it is the drive thru African Safari. The giant buffalo was a little hungry when he tasted our car's rubber window shield.

Whether is sounds lame or fun, one of our most treasured memories was when E was little and even when we had B and took him on this trip and we went over to Put-In-Bay. We rented a golf cart for the day and after making some stops and exploring we just spent a few hours driving around the Island, end to end, and it was a beautiful day with a light breeze. The boys took a nap in the golf cart and we just enjoyed the peace of an amazing day of vacation. #guentheradventures