The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse during an icy cold Chicago winter.
The marine lifestyle and culture are almost non-existence in Chicago. For the most part, the great state of Illinois is mainly land locked. Leaving the city of Chicago with the only port by water entry, the Port of Chicago. At its peak during the industrial boom, the water shipping industry was quite reliant on the water routes of Lake Michigan. When maritime commerce became a reliable industry in Chicago, lighthouses were constructed overtime. It’s quite common for coastal cities and states to have multiple lighthouses, many are still operational – Only four remain in Chicago; The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, the Chicago Harbor Southeast Guidewall Lighthouse, Grosse Point Lighthouse, and the Waukegan Harbor Lighthouse. These lighthouses can still be visited and are open to tourists.
The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
The lighthouse was constructed in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition, it was later relocated to its current location in 1919. The lighthouse was registered on the National Register of Historic Places on July 19, 1984. The lighthouse was later designated as a Chicago Landmark on April 9, 2003.
The Chicago Harbor Southeast Guidewall Lighthouse
The main Chicago harbor Lighthouse works in tandem with the Chicago Harbor Southeast Guidewall Lighthouse. The Guidewall lighthouse helps protects the Chicago Harbor from the southern end part, at the southeast guide wall of the breakwater system. It’s marginally smaller than the main lighthouse. Constructed in 1938, it’s currently active and automated.
Grosse Point Lighthouse
This lighthouse is located in Evanston, just north of Chicago. The Grosse Point Lighthouse is a historically noteworthy lighthouse that was fundamental in helping ships navigate the waters near the regularly dangerous Grosse Point. The shallow waters off the point caused many shipwrecks, encouraging the construction of the lighthouse in 1873. In 1941, the Grosse Point lighthouse was decommissioned and is now a museum and public park. Grosse Point Lighthouse is also a designated National Historic Landmark.
Waukegan Harbor Lighthouse
The Waukegan Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1906. Found at the end of a long breakwater in Lake Michigan, the Waukegan Harbor Lighthouse marks the entrance to Waukegan’s harbor. The lighthouse is not as large or well-known as the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse or Grosse Point, it’s an important aid for navigation to ships traveling near the northeastern Illinois harbor. The light is active and automated but not open to the public.
If the temperatures in Chicago ever call for beautiful and sunny, book a tour and see up close these historic lighthouses. When people think of a maritime commerce city, they think of cities like Nantucket, Seattle, or Miami – Chicago rarely comes up. Luckily you don’t have to live far to get a glimpse of marine life, being a master and commander of the sea is not required to visit these historic lighthouses.
For more information, please visit: Chicagodetours.com.
