Presque Isle Lighthouse, Erie Land Lighthouse open for 2023 season
The wait is over for lighthouse lovers eager to get inside and up the structures overlooking the waters around Erie.
The 2023 season has started for the Presque Isle Lighthouse and Erie Land Lighthouse.
Here's what to know if you want to go.
Where are Erie's lighthouses?
The Presque Isle Lighthouse is located along the shore of Lake Erie at Presque Isle State Park near Leslie Beach.
Completed in 1873, the brick tower was initially 40 feet high but an additional 17 feet of tower was added in 1896. While the exterior of the tower is square, the interior is circular with 78 spiral steps and six landings. The attached dwelling previously housed lighthouse keepers and their families and then state park managers before it was opened to the public in 2015. Owned by the state and operated by the Presque Isle Light Station nonprofit, the lighthouse is still a working aid to navigation, with a light maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.
From 2018: Presque Isle Lighthouse preps for season with new Welcome Center
The Erie Land Lighthouse is located at 2 Lighthouse Street in Erie, east of Presque Isle Bay.
The present lighthouse was built in 1867. Earlier versions, constructed as far back as 1818, had been located nearby. The tower is 49 feet high and 69 steps lead to the lantern. An oil room is attached to the tower but the former keeper's house is separate and a private residence. Owned by the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, the lighthouse is operated by the Presque Isle Light Station. The light at the top of the tower shines but is not an active aid to navigation.
From 2021: Erie Land Lighthouse opening for tours, visitors allowed to climb tower
The North Pier Light is sometimes referred to as a lighthouse, although it is technically a "light structure." It is on the end of the North Pier, beyond Beach 11 and near the U.S. Coast Guard Station, at Presque Isle State Park.
The black and white, 35-foot-tall tower topped by a light was established at its present location in 1940 after a couple moves and replacement of an earlier wooden version dating back to 1830. The present three-story steel tower sits on a 13-square-foot concrete foundation and has a hexagon lantern surrounded by an open-air gallery. It is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and continues to serve as an active aid to navigation.
'Natural fit': Presque Isle Lighthouse nonprofit interested in taking on North Pier Light maintenance
When do the lighthouses open to the public?
Opening day for the 2023 season for the Presque Isle and Erie Land lighthouses was Saturday.
The public can walk up to the North Pier Light year-round.
What days and hours can I visit?
The Presque Isle Lighthouse will be open the remaining Saturdays and Sundays in April from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In May, Fridays and Mondays will be added to that. Beginning May 26 and through Labor Day, it will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Erie Land Lighthouse will be open Saturdays and Sundays in April and May from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For June through Labor Day, it will be open Fridays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Access to the North Pier Light is during regular Presque Isle State Park hours of 5 a.m. to sunset.
For subscribers: See inside a Presque Isle houseboat and learn about the owner's upkeep and weather challenges
What can I see?
The grounds, dwelling and tower of the Presque Isle Lighthouse are all open to the public during the season.
The grounds and tower of the Erie Land Lighthouse are open.
While the outside of the North Pier Light is a popular spot for taking photos, the inside of the tower is not open to the public.
From 2021: North Pier Light at Presque Isle to appear on Forever Stamp
How much does it cost?
A visit to the grounds at any of the three sites is free. Accessing the dwelling at the Presque Isle Lighthouse costs $5. A tower climb costs $8 at the Presque Isle Lighthouse and also includes the dwelling while a tower climb is $6 at the Erie Land Lighthouse, according to the Presque Isle Light Station website. A combination tower climb for both sites is $12. All are free for lighthouse members. Visitors must be at least 44 inches tall to climb either tower.
The Erie Land Lighthouse is open for free to the public on the first Tuesday of the month through October.
Learn more: Illuminating information about Presque Isle, Erie Land and other lighthouses
A 40-minute guided tour of the Presque Isle Lighthouse, including the grounds, dwelling and optional tower climb, is $15 for visitors and free for members, according to the light station website.
Various membership levels are available, ranging from $25 to $500, according to the website.
Where can I learn more?
The Presque Isle Light Station's website, known as Lake Erie Lights of PA, has information about the Presque Isle Lighthouse, Erie Land Lighthouse and North Pier Light at www.presqueislelighthouse.org. To reach the Welcome Center adjacent to the Presque Isle Lighthouse, call 814-833-3604.
Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Presque Isle Lighthouse, Erie Land Lighthouse open for 2023 season
