Cleveland West Pierhead Light
Why it's listed
Cleveland West Pierhead Light is a harbor light and fog signal on the west pierhead at the main entrance to Cleveland Harbor, on Lake Erie. Together with a small metal beacon on the east breakwater, it marks the channel into the harbor. The arrowhead breakwaters were built between 1904 and 1909 to shelter the harbor from prevailing northerly winds, and in 1908 $45,000 was appropriated for two light stations. The tower, erected in 1909-1910, is four stories of brick sheathed with wood, painted white and conical in shape. It has a basement, a galley on the first floor and living quarters on the upper floors, which are no longer occupied. A watchroom and circular lantern top the tower. The light still shines through a 4th-order Fresnel lens marked Paris, 1884, at a focal plane height of 63 feet. A covered passage links the tower to a steel-clad fog signal house built in 1916. The Coast Guard owns the structure, and it remains in use.
Significance in brief: The inventory form describes the light as marking the main harbor entrance together with a small beacon on the east breakwater. It was built as part of the harbor improvements that included the arrowhead breakwaters of 1904-1909. The form states that the lighthouse played an important role in the development of Cleveland 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 83001950, listed August 4, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cleveland Harbor on Lake Erie, Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | August 4, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001950 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a harbor light and fog signal; the tower's living quarters are no longer occupied. Condition is marked fair, with exterior, interior and environs noted as intact. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.50906, -81.71762 (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 83001950.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28374708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.