Old Michigan City Lighthouse, Michigan City, Indiana

This schoolhouse style lighthouse was built in 1858 but has been inactive since 1904. It did however serve as the keepers house for the Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse until 1940. It is located in Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana just West of the Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse. It now serves as a lighthouse museum and is well worth the visit. Although there is no lens in the tower, a rebuilt spiral staircase allows one access to the tower and the view. Photos taken in June 2011.

Michigan City East Pierhead Lighthouse, Michigan City, Indiana

This light was built in 1904 replacing a previous wooden light that established on the site in 1871. It sits at the end of a long concrete pier near Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana. There is a popular beach adjacent to the pier. The light is somewhat unique in that there is a steel catwalk that starts at the foot of the pier and travels out to the lighthouse. This cat walk enabled the keepers to more easily access the light during very stormy weather. In 2007 the lighthouse was deemed excess by the Coast Guard and was taken over by Michigan City. Just north of the light is a large nuclear power generating station. When I visited the light in June 2011 I found it in need of some sprucing up as the paint was worn and there was an abundance of graffiti, especially on the lake side of the light.

Chicago Harbour South East Guidewall Lighthouse, Chicago, Illinois

This light was established in 1938 and sits at the end of the South East Guidewall just South of Navy Pier. It marks the entrance to the lock into the Chicago River. It can be viewed from the Navy Pier or from a lake cruise offered at Navy or the water taxi from Navy Pier to the Field Museum. Photos taken in June 2011.

Chicago Harbour Lighthouse, Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Harbour Lighthouse sits at the end of the North Harbour breakwall east of Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. It was originally established in 1893 at the entrance to the Chicago River and was moved to its present location in 1919. The lighthouse was deemed excess by the Coast Guard and ownership was transferred to the City of Chicago. One can get good views of the light from any of the lake cruises offered at Navy Pier. Photos taken in June 2011.

Grosse Point Lightstation, Evanston, Illinois

The Grosse Point Lightstation was established in 1873. It is located in Evanston, Illinois approximately 13 miles North of Chicago. It is found on the shore of Lake Michigan adjacent to Lawrence O. Lawson Park and Lighthouse Beach. It is a privately operated light and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It is not far from the campus of Northwestern University. Photos taken in June 2011.