South Bass Island Lighthouse
The beautiful South Bass Island Lighthouse was built in 1892 on a rugged piece of shoreline known as Parker's Point that forms the southwestern tip of the island. The three story house is expansive. The keeper and his family must have had a near full-time job keeping it ready for surprise visits from the lighthouse service inspectors. The brick exterior is interrupted by many windows. The front porch is supported by brick pilasters facing the blue expanse of Lake Erie.
The grounds are a mixture of lush green lawns and bands of trees running along the shoreline. Several maples and oaks spread their branches to shade the south wall of the house. These contrast nicely with the lighthouse red brick of the 120 year old structure.
In 1962, the U.S. Coast Guard erected a new white skeleton light tower. The house was aquired by The Ohio State University and is currently used as a private residence. Visitors are allowed to view the lighthouse during specially arranged tours.
The original 1892 fourth degree French Fresnel Lens is displayed at the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum at Put-in-Bay daily during
the season, lit and rotating.
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