Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light

Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light is a square brick tower at the mouth of Grand River in northeastern Ohio. The structure stands within a steel frame and sends a white light signal flashing every three seconds across Lake Erie.

This lighthouse was constructed in 1917 using congressional appropriations to replace an earlier tower. The previous structure had guided ships through these waters for more than a century before it was retired.

The lighthouse stands as a testament to maritime navigation traditions on the Great Lakes, with its fourth-order lens guiding vessels across Lake Erie.

You can walk along the breakwater to get close views of the tower from the outside, as the interior is closed to visitors. The best vantage point is from the land side, where you can observe the structure's details against the lake backdrop.

The lighthouse was sold as a private summer home in 2011 while continuing to serve as an active navigation aid. This dual purpose as both a residence and a functioning signal light makes it an unusual coastal structure today.

GPS coordinates: 41.76785,-81.28113

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:04