Cleveland East Pierhead Light
Why it's listed
Cleveland East Pierhead Light is a small conical iron beacon on a 60-foot-square concrete pierhead at the east breakwater, marking the entrance to Cleveland Harbor. The tower is 31 feet high overall and painted white, with a black lantern and gallery. Its design includes a south-facing steel door with a three-part entablature and pilasters. Col. W. L. Fisk of the Corps of Engineers prepared the plans, and construction ran from July 1909 to December 1910. The light replaced a wooden tower first established in 1869 and began service on March 25, 1911, alongside the larger West Pierhead Light. Both stand on breakwaters the Army Corps of Engineers built in 1904-08 to protect and enlarge the harbor. A barge collision in 1948 led to rebuilding of the pierhead deck, and the original acetylene equipment was replaced in 1959 with a battery-powered lantern. The light remains in service for navigation and was listed for its transportation role and its architecture.
Significance in brief: With its larger twin, the West Pierhead Light, it marks the main entrance to Cleveland Harbor and has been in continuous service since 1911. It is significant under Criteria A and C for its role in Lake Erie transportation and commerce and in Great Lakes light stations, and for its design, which is virtually unaltered.
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 91001855, listed December 19, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E breakwater pierhead, entrance to Cleveland harbor, Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | December 19, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001855 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1909-10 |
| Architect / builder | Col. W. L. Fisk (plans and specifications, Corps of Engineers, Tenth Lighthouse District); the builder is not known |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active navigation light owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard; it has been automated since 1959 and shows a flashing green light. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.51024, -81.71523 (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 91001855.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q33320700
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.