Conneaut Harbor West Breakwater Light
Why it's listed
Conneaut Harbor West Breakwater Light is a 60-foot steel tower on a concrete base at the end of the west breakwater guarding the entrance to Conneaut Harbor on Lake Erie. It was built in 1935-36 to replace a pierhead lighthouse completed in 1920, and it can be reached only by boat. Its design came from a 1934 prototype for a remote-control pierhead station, credited to C. A. Park and G. B. Skinner, and it is one of six similar stations built by the Bureau of Lighthouses in the 1930s. The welded and riveted tower, clad in boiler plate, shows Streamline Moderne styling and could be built cheaply, run remotely from shore and maintained with little effort. That approach marked the end of traditional lighthouse design. The light also reflects the harbor's role in shipping grain, ore, coal and limestone. Automated in 1971, it remains an active aid to navigation operated by the Coast Guard.
Significance in brief: It is one of six similar remote-control pierhead stations built by the Bureau of Lighthouses in the 1930s from a 1934 prototype. Its Streamline Moderne styling and steel skin reflected the architectural trend of the period and marked the end of traditional lighthouse design. It is also tied to Lake Erie shipping and commerce at Conneaut harbor.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000243, listed April 10, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W breakwater pierhead, harbor entrance, Conneaut |
|---|---|
| County | Ashtabula County |
| Listed | April 10, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000243 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1935-36 |
| Architect / builder | C. A. Park and G. B. Skinner |
| Architectural style | Streamline Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continues in service as an active light, owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard; automated in 1971. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.97991, -80.55777 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q81643507
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.