I've long been visually attracted towards lighthouses, and fortunately there are plenty to see around New York State. We have lighthouses along the Atlantic Ocean, lighthouses along the shores of the Great Lakes, even lighthouses up and down the Hudson River. One of these lighthouses was so nice, it was built twice. I am referring to the Oak Orchard Lighthouse, located along Lake Ontario in Point Breeze.
The Oak Orchard Lighthouse stands along the banks of the Oak Orchard River as it empties into Lake Ontario. The original lighthouse was built in 1871 over one of the piers at Point Breeze after $80,000 was granted for pier development and $20,000 was awarded to construct the lighthouse. The original lighthouse stood until 1916, when a storm washed away the lighthouse and the pier. By that time, the lighthouse was no longer in operation.
The Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum was founded in 2004 and raised funds to have a replica lighthouse built at Point Breeze. The lighthouse was built in 2010 and there are plans to build a building to house a museum. You can visit the lighthouse as part of a trip down the Seaway Trail or just if you want a neat destination to go to for the day.
Sources and Links:
Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum - The History of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse
LighthouseFriends.com - Oak Orchard (Replica) Lighthouse
Great Lakes Seaway Trail - Old Orchard Lighthouse Museum
How to Get There:
Update Log:
January 9, 2018 - Added article to Unlocking New York.
November 9, 2021 - Transferred article from Unlocking New York to Gribblenation.
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