Fort Niagara Light

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Fort Niagara Light
Fortniagara.JPG
Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse
Location Old Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario
Coordinates 43°15′42″N 79°03′48″W / 43.26167°N 79.06333°W / 43.26167; -79.06333
Year first constructed 1872
Deactivated 1993
Foundation Natural/emplaced
Construction Limestone, brick lining
Tower shape Frustum of an octagon
Markings / pattern Natural with black lantern
Height 61 ft (19 m)
Focal height 91 ft (28 m)
Original lens Fourth-order Fresnel lens
Range 10
ARLHS number USA-294 [1]
USCG number 7-2485 [2]

Fort Niagara Light was a lighthouse on the Niagara River on the south shore of Lake Ontario in New York state.

Contents

[edit] History

The lighthouse was established in 1782 atop the "French Castle", a structure still located within Old Fort Niagara. The current tower was first lit in 1872, having been removed from the French Castle to allow for more room for officer's quarters. The light was deactivated in 1996, having been replaced by a light beacon at the US Coast Guard Station Niagara.

The foundation was natural/emplaced and the lighthouse was constructed out of limestone with a brick lining. The tower is octagonal in shape with a black lantern. The original lens was a fourth order Fresnel lens installed in 1859

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #84002809 Name of Listing: FORT NIAGARA LIGHT (U.S. COAST GUARD/GREAT LAKES TR)

Part of Old Fort Niagara National Historic Landmark; First two towers constructed on the fort; Third (current) tower constructed south of fort; Tower replaced by modern beacon in order to save trees obstructing lantern in 1993.

[edit] Cultural

The Archives Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a collection (#1055) of souvenir postcards of lighthouses and has digitized 272 of these and made them available online. These include postcards of Fort Niagara Light [3] with links to customized nautical charts provided by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

  • U.S. Coast Guard. Historically Famous Lighthouses (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1957).
  • Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia. Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993

[edit] External links


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