Youngstown in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

1. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

Inscription. First Light on the Great Lakes You are standing near the site of the earliest lighthouse on the Great Lakes; a lantern room on the roof of the French Castle inside the fort. From that first whale oil fueled lantern, the Niagara lights evolved to this classically detailed tower erected outside the fort's walls.

Lighthouse Timeline •1781 First Light on the Great Lakes at Mouth of the Niagara River.
•1789 Lighthouses Become Federal Responsibility.
•1823 Light Erected Atop the French Castle.
•1850 Lighthouse Board Established. Upgrading Begun.
•1871 Existing Stone Lighthouse Built. Lens moved from "Castle" to Tower in 1872.
•1900 Watchroom Added, Extending Tower.
•1993 Lighthouse Deactivated.

Anatomy of a Lighthouse Tower Foundation
•Massive Concrete Foundation
Tower
•Taper for Stability
•Rubble and Mortar Wall Core
•Brick Interior Wall
•Dressed Limestone Exterior, from the Niagara Region
•Spiral Stair. 72 Cast Iron Steps
•Windows for Lighting the Stairwell
Watchroom
•Windows for Watching Activities on the Water
Lantern Room
•Catwalk
•Lens and Lantern
•Vent Ball

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway, and the Lighthouses series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.

Location. 43° 15.706′ N, 79° 3.634′ W. Marker is in Youngstown, New York, in Niagara County. Marker is on Scott Avenue north of Jackson Street (New York State Route 18F), on the left when traveling north. This historical marker is located a short drive north of the downtown Youngstown area, in the Fort Niagara State Park. According to Google Map it is located at the end of the Scott Avenue loop, next to the parking area for visiting Old Fort Niagara. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Youngstown NY 14174, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Fort Niagara (within shouting distance of this marker); The Niagara Portage: Gateway to the West (within shouting distance of this marker); Morrow Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Fort Niagara Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); The Siege of Fort Niagara (within shouting distance of this marker); Dueling Cannons

Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker (Restored) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 17, 2019

2. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker (Restored)

(within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Old Fort Niagara (within shouting distance of this marker); To the Memory (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Youngstown.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Niagara, NY. This is a link to information provided by the LighthouseFriends.com website. (Submitted on August 7, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. Fort Niagara Light. This is a link to information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Submitted on August 7, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

3. Fort Niagara Light. Historic American Engineering Record form, National Archives. (Submitted on September 15, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, September 17, 2018

3. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

4. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

View of the Fort Niagara Lighthouse, with a distant view of the historical marker seen just to the left of the lighthouse.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

5. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

Close-up view of the historical marker's display on the "Anatomy of a Lighthouse Tower."

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

6. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

Close-up view of the historical marker's display on the "Lighthouse Timeline." (double click on picture to enlarge and see greater detail)

Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

7. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

8. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

View of the featured historical marker situated just to the left of the Fort Niagara Lighthouse.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

9. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

Close-up view of the marker's map that displays all of the lighthouses along New York's Great Lake and St. Lawrence River coastline.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

10. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

View of the display inside of the Old Fort Niagara Visitor Center & Museum, showing the Fort Niagara Lighthouse 4th order Fresnel Lens.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 24, 2013

11. Old Fort Niagara Lighthouse Marker

View of the Fort Niagara Lighthouse, looking across the Old Fort Niagara's visitors' parking lot.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 609 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 7, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 2, 3. submitted on September 22, 2019, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on August 7, 2013, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.