Lighthouses fascinate me. Whenever we are on any kind of trip or adventure we try to find a lighthouse.
Many of our trips involve large bodies of water so there is a pretty good likelihood that I will see a lighthouse. My Mr. Diamond loves to find them for me and on a recent trip to Ohio he found a new one.
We were headed to the airport later in the day but had some time to kill after a weekend of gatherings so family members could meet Micah and Wendy. Chris looked at the map and decided to take a little detour on our way to the airport to a cute town called Vermillion. If my memory serves me correctly I believe my Daddy actually lived in Vermilion at one time.
Vermilion is a smallish town of around 11,000 located in Erie and Lorain counties. It started as a fishing and small boat harbor area and served the area well. The town has changed over the years and one thing that has changed along with the town is the lighthouse.
The first lighthouse in Vermilion was built back in 1847 with a $3000 grant. The structure was originally wooden and in 1886 funds were designated to build a new permanent light house from iron. The lighthouse was completed in1 877, was 34 feet high and equipped with an oil lantern and a 5th order Fresnel lens.
A view of the nice park area and beach located next to the lighthouse.
In 1929 the lighthouse it was discovered that the lighthouse was leaning so it was removed and replaced with an 18 foot steel tower. The old lighthouse was moved back to Buffalo and was later restored and reinstalled as the East Charity Shoal Light.
The current lighthouse is the result of a $55,000 public fundraising effort to bring a replica of the original lighthouse back to the shores of Lake Erie. The replica was erected on October 23, 1991 and dedicated on June 6, 1992. A 200 watt incandescent light bulb illuminates the lighthouse with a 5th order Fresnel lens. It is situated on the property of the Inland Seas Maritime Museum.
We didn’t have time to explore the museum but it looked like a pretty neat place so if you are in the area and have time check it out.
This smallish lighthouse stands proud and tall on the shores and is a great tribute to the area who wanted to preserve a bit of history. 
12 Comments
Leave a commentWell, that is so cute! You know: there are several lighthouses in the Outer Banks area….I’m just sayin’!
I know! We have been to all of them I think–have to double check that with my hubby but I am always ready for another trip. Gotta get through this wedding and the fall –hopefully next year. You are still on the list of Have To Meet IRL!!!!
Your light house posts are always enjoyable. You may also know from your Ohio Days that Vermilion has at least 2 other noteworthy mentions. First is the annual Woollybear Festival that draws 100,000 folks. It’s billed as the largest 1 day festival in the US. The second is a renown restaurant Chez Francois, which always makes it on to some kind of list. FYI
Oh I did forget the Woolybear Festival! And we walked past the Chez Francois which Chris’s cousin told us about. Such amazing things to find in a small town. Love eit!
There is just something about lighthouses, isn´t there. I visited one in Northern California which was supposed to be haunted! Cool. We have found a couple nearby here in Spain as well. Love your lighthouse posts. This one is charming.
My Mom loved lighthouses as well and we are looking forward to seeing lots of them on our road trip, especially along the Oregon Coast Hwy.
There will be tons to see on that trip for sure! So many lighthouses and so little time.
We love to find lighthouses too. I think my fascination with them started when we lived in Oregon and spent a lot of time exploring the spectacular Pacific coastline. We’ve visited ones on the Outer Banks and now added a couple from Cape Cod. Each one different and each one so interesting.
No wonder you love lighthouses–The Pacific Coast has some amazing ones, doesn’t it? I have only seen a handful there but always happy to add to my list. 🙂
What a fantastic find. I love when communities come together to save treasures like this.
It really is a cute lighthouse and the history of it is very interesting. I love finding little treasures like this one as well.
Cool ya’ got to see a new lighthouse! We’ve been to one here in NC, they’re kind of neat…