The Marblehead Lighthouse near Port Clinton, Ohio, is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes.
According to infomation provide by the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society, it was built in 1821 by William Kelly, a stone mason, and the contractor was Steve Woolverton. Built of native limestone, it took only eleven weeks to build. It went into service in 1822 with Benajah Wolcott as the first keeper. His wife, Elizabeth, served as keeper for two years after his death in 1832, thus becoming the first female lighthouse keeper on the Great Lakes. Originally called the Sandusky Bay light, the name was changed to the Marblehead Lighthouse in 1870.
In 1897, a 3 and 1/2 Order Fresnel lens was installed and that lens is now on display in the museum.
The lighthouse is 65 feet high. There are 87 steps to the top and today its flashing green light can be seen up to 16 miles.
In 2008, we made a spring visit in May, returned in early July, and made a third visit in August at which time I was able to climb the lighthouse (for only the second time) and tour the museum. We have returned twice more in 2009. All photos included are from our 2008 and 2009 visits.