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Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse

F White🇺🇸Marblehead, USOperational

Location & Light Range

About Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse

A square pyramidal wood tower, 6 meters tall, was erected in 1896 at the entrance to the Portage River in Port Clinton, Ohio. Its lantern roof is black, and the structure is painted white. The focal height of its light is 8 meters. The station was originally established in 1833. After being deactivated in 1952, the lighthouse was relocated to a private marina. It was offered to the City of Port Clinton in 2011, leading to the formation of a conservancy for its restoration. The tower's restoration was completed in 2014, and it was reactivated in 2016, marking its return to service after decades.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is significant as one of the few remaining pepperpot style structures in the Great Lakes region. Its community-led restoration and reactivation demonstrate a strong local commitment to preserving maritime heritage.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
F White
Flash Type
Fixed
Light Color
White
Raw Code
F W
Focal Height
8m
Geographic Range
9.7NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1896

Significant events: station established 1833, deactivated 1952, relocated to Brand family marina, offered to City of Port Clinton in late 2011, Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy organized, restoration of tower complete in summer 2014, final contract approved by city council in November 2015, documents signed licensing placement and transfer in April 2016, reactivated 2016

Visiting

Open to public
Yes

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
6m
Tower Shape
square pyramidal
Tower Color
white, lantern roof black
Material
wood

Structure: A 6m square pyramidal wood tower with lantern, painted white with a black lantern roof.

Location

City
Marblehead
Country
🇺🇸United States
Region
Ohio
Sea Region
Great Lakes, at Port Clinton, marking the entrance to the Portage River, now in Waterworks Park at the harbor entrance
Latitude
41.5365°
Longitude
-82.7118°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Lakeside marblehead(0.8 km)
ARLHS No.
USA-914
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse at night?+
Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses displays the characteristic F White. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is LAKESIDE MARBLEHEAD at 0.9 NM to the WNW. Other ports served include Sandusky, Erie (4.4 NM S), PORT CLINTON (10.9 NM W), Huron (11.1 NM SE), Huron (11.2 NM SE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Ottawa County: Mainland Lighthouses Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.