 Photo Courtesy Jack Ryan
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Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 3 | | | Water, acres | -10 | | Day-Use | Picnicking | yes |
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Nearby Parks:
Chugach National Forest
Quail Creek State Park
Santa Rosa Lake State Park
Goose Creek State Park
John Mountain National Recreation Trail
Ed Jenkins National Recreation Area
Deer Mountain National Recreation Trail
Barkcamp State Park
Buckeye Lake State Park
Deer Creek State Park
Beaver Creek State Park
Caesar Creek State Park
Lake Milton State Park
Delaware State Park
Harrison Lake State Park
Mary Jane Thurston State Park
Mohican State Park
Mosquito Lake State Park
Pike Lake State Park
Salt Fork State Park
Scioto Trail State Park
Tar Hollow State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Marblehead Lighthouse, one of Lake Erie's best known and most-photographed landmarks, is Ohio's newest state park! The grounds surrounding the lighthouse offer excellent picnicking and views of Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay, Kelleys Island and South Bass Island. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
| Be the 1st to Review Marblehead Lighthouse State Park. You can rate it, post a comment on it, or do both. |
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| Picnicking: |
| The grounds surrounding Marblehead lighthouse offer excellent picnicking. Tables are supported by concrete pads. Portable restrooms are available. |
| History of the Area: |
| 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 fifteenth U. S. Congress recognized the need for navigational aides along the Great Lakes, and set aside $5,000 for construction of 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 five feet thick. It narrows to twelve feet at the top with two-foot thick walls.
Through history, fifteen 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 thirteen 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.
The whale oil lamps were replaced in 1858 by the light from a single kerosene lantern magnified by a Fresnel lens. This specialized, curved glass lens created a highly visible, fixed white light.
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 household moved to a wooden frame home in a more convenient location, next to the lighthouse.
The turn of the century ushered in new technology as well as structural changes including the addition of another 15 feet to the tower?s height. A clock-like mechanism was installed to rotate the lantern, creating the appearance of a brilliant flash of light every 10 seconds. This system required that the lighthouse keeper crank the weights every three hours through the night to keep the lantern turning. An improved Fresnel lens with prism surfaces created an even more brilliant beacon.
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 United States 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.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources 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 300 mm lens projects a green signal that flashes every six seconds and is visible for eleven 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. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Area Attractions: |
| East Harbor State Park features unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreation. With Ohio's largest state park campground, boating, fishing, swimming and picnicking are popular while nature enthusiasts will enjoy the abundance of waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife found in the park's scenic wetlands.
The Lake Erie Islands offer one of Ohio's most unique vacation location. Limestone cliffs, historic wineries, crystal caverns and a shimmering Great Lake greet visitors to the Lake Erie Islands state parks. These four state parks offer unique island retreats with an atmosphere both festive and casual. Fishing, boating and swimming can be enjoyed at each park.
The Ottawa County Visitors Bureau is an excellent source for travel options and ideas all around the Lake Erie Islands area. |
| Directions: |
| 4049 E Moore’s Dock Rd, Port Clinton, OH 43452 |
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| Area Activities |
| Tourism | | Hocking Hills Internet Guide - hockinghills.com - Offical Guide to Southeastern Ohio's Scenic Wonderland, the Hocking Hills. The 9 State Parks and State Forests. How to get there, things to do, interesting local merchants, what to see, places to stay. Reserve your cabin or campsite online! |
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