Chicago Harbor Lighthouse Transferred
By Sue Clark on Feb 27, 2009 in News 
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Chicago Takes Over the Lighthouse
Chicago is having one heck of a year. The city has sent us the new POTUS, it’s being touted as a possible site for the Olympics, and has generated headlines in the news with the impeachment of their governor. Okay, so the last isn’t necessarily good news, beyond getting Rod Blago out of office, but one other bit of good news is the transfer of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse to the city under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The transfer was initiated on February 24 by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.
Information on the lighthouse from the City of Chicago Archives:
The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is the only surviving lighthouse in Chicago and one of only two remaining examples in Illinois. Built in 1893, the Lighthouse symbolically marks the Chicago Harbor-a historically pivotal point where the nation’s maritime transportation network connected the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and ultimately the Gulf Coast. During the 1917 renovation of the breakwater, the lighthouse was moved to its present location, and its attached fog-signal room and boathouse were constructed. The Lighthouse played such a significant role in the development of Chicago that it is commemorated in a relief sculpture, entitled “The Spirit of the Waters,” located near the LaSalle Street entrance of City Hall. Today its crisp white conical tower rising between two red-roofed buildings is a familiar sight along Chicago’s shoreline just east of Navy Pier, where the Lighthouse continues to mark the harbor entrance.
Transfer Took Four Years
It’s amazing how long these lighthouse transfers are beginning to take. The original excessing of the lighthouse took place in 2005. That’s four years ago. I’m not sure what the holdup was, but I’m glad it’s finally settled and the lighthouse can be restored.
And what about the plans for the lighthouse? Since the National Park Service doesn’t make the applications available online to the public, it’s hard to say. The applications have detailed information about future use, as required in the NPS process. Lighthouse News will update this story as information becomes available from Twitter friend @VisitChicago.
Although access is a problem, the city is planning a museum at the site. The goal is to inform the public about the important role Chicago, Navy Pier and Lake Michigan have played in maritime history. Because of the location, with treacherous, choppy waters surrounding the light at the end of the breakwall, it is probable a dock will be put in place. Other uses that have been mentioned are for a small cafe and/or a bed and breakfast.. I’m not sure how that will work, but you can’t deny the location is great. Info is from a story at the Chicago Tribune.
Photo Credit: Chicago Harbor Lighthouse by Roevin. Some rights reserved.
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1 Comment(s)
By caveman947 on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply