Horse Island Light

Horse Island Light is a limestone and brick lighthouse standing 21 meters above Lake Ontario, marking the entrance to Sackets Harbor. The structure includes both a tower and a keeper's residence built to serve navigation in this waterway.

Congress approved funding in 1831 to build the lighthouse, addressing hazards from rocky shores and cliffs in the area. The facility operated as an active aid to navigation until 1957, when a modern steel tower took over its role.

The residence attached to the tower displays Queen Anne and Italianate architectural features common to 19th-century lighthouse keeper homes. These styles show how those who tended the light lived and chose to decorate their dwellings.

The lighthouse site sits on an island in Lake Ontario and is best accessed from the shore or by boat. Check access conditions beforehand, as island visits can vary by season and weather.

Before modern automation, a fifth-order Fresnel lens served as the optical heart of the lighthouse system. This lens technology was advanced for its time and greatly improved how far ships could see the guiding light across the water.

Location: Jefferson County

Inception: 1831

Height: 21 m

Made from material: limestone, brick

GPS coordinates: 43.94300,-76.14460

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:05