South Bass Island Light
Why it's listed
Perched on Parker's Point at the southwest tip of South Bass Island in Lake Erie, this light station operated from 1897 to 1963. Its red brick tower, 45 feet tall, is joined to a two-story keeper's dwelling in the Queen Anne style, laid in Flemish bond with a cut stone water table. The lantern, gallery and stairway reportedly came from the Gibraltar, Michigan, light. A former barn and chicken house, now a garage, and a small riveted iron oil house, both dating from 1899, complete the group. The light first showed a fixed red signal, changed in 1926 to alternating white and red flashes, and guided vessels through the South Passage among the Lake Erie Islands. It was built as the island flourished as a summer resort. After an automated light on a steel tower replaced it, the property passed in 1967 to Ohio State University, which uses the dwelling as faculty housing. Despite remodeling, the complex keeps the feeling of a turn-of-the-century island light station.
Significance in brief: The light marked the southwest tip of South Bass Island from 1897 until 1963 and guided vessels through the South Passage around the Lake Erie Islands. It was built when the island was at its height as a summer resort. The nomination finds it significant under Criterion A for transportation, and an amendment added Criterion C for engineering. It retains enough integrity to convey an island light station of the turn of the century.
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 90000473, listed April 5, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Langram Rd., on SW point of South Bass Island, South Bass Island |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | April 5, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000473 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | Lt. Col. Jared A. Smith, Corps of Engineers |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Removed from service in 1963 and replaced by an automated light on a steel skeleton tower; transferred in 1967 to Ohio State University, which uses the dwelling as faculty residence. The lighthouse and barn have been remodeled. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.62949, -82.84144 (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 90000473.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q429869
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.