A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
The history of the Dunkirk Lighthouse goes back to 1827, when the first version of it was built on Point Gratiot. The structure that replaced it in the 1870s incorporates bricks from the original lighthouse. In 1857, it was fitted with a Fresnel lens that shines light 27 miles out into Lake Erie. The structure was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as the Point Gratiot Lighthouse Complex.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse was established in 1826, and the current tower was first illuminated in 1875. Walter Smith, an influential citizen of Dunkirk, donated land on Point Gratiot for the original lighthouse, which today hosts Veterans Park Museum. This large anchor was from the vessel the Annabelle Wilson, which sank off by the Dunkirk Lighthouse in November 1913. It was raised and donated to the museum by divers Rick Lucas and Tom, Dave and Tim McDonald in September 1990.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
People take a tour of the lighthouse that is attached to the keepers' residence. Walter Smith served as keeper for four years, until then President Andrew Jackson cut short Smithu2019s 10-year contract and appointed Abraham Day, his adopted son, as keeper in 1831.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
On Sept. 26, 1812, and from this site, some of the first shots of the War of 1812 were fired by local militia at armed soldiers from the British Schooner Lady Prevost. When a small boat carrying soldiers from the British ship was sighted rowing in pursuit of an American salt barge that had taken refuge at the mouth of Canadaway Creek, local citizen Celea Sampson "Widow" Cole rode her horse to the settlement of Canadaway (Fredonia) to send word for reinforcements. Recognized as a War of 1812 heroine for her efforts to spread the alarm, the Widow Cole reportedly also carried food and water to the militiamen and melted her pewter dishes to make bullets for their use during the attack.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The original lens was installed in 1857 and is a third order Fresnel lens and it's still in operation today. Only 70 such lenses are operational in the United States, 16 of those on the Great Lakes of which two are in New York.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The waters of Lake Erie off Dunkirk have been the site of several notable shipwrecks. The lake's first steamboat, the Walk-on-Water, was lost to a storm in 1818. In 1841 the Erie burned with the loss of 141 lives. The fire was blamed on painters who stored turpentine and varnish on the deck above the ship's boilers.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The light from the new, square, limestone tower, containing a spiral, cast-iron staircase, was first exhibited on July 1, 1876. The tower still stands to this day and is 61 feet tall.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
In 1875-1876, a 61-foot stone tower and a beautiful Victorian residence were constructed to replace the original tower, which was threatened by erosion.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The attached keeperu2019s dwelling is a beautiful, High Victorian Gothic fashioned from red brick and a slate roof.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The attached keeperu2019s dwelling is a beautiful, High Victorian Gothic fashioned from red brick and a slate roof. (Mark Mulville/Buffalo News)
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
Francis D. Arnold hangs in the keepers' residence. Arnold served as assistant keeper and then keeper of the Dunkirk Lighthouse from December 1909 to July 1950.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
A lighthouse-shaped banister in the keeper's residence.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
A building that was used to store oil and supplies used in the lighthouse from 1875-1960.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
A boat speeds past the cliffs off the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum in Dunkirk on Tuesday July 2, 2019.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
A rudder salvaged from a Lake Erie shipwreck displayed on the grounds of the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
A rudder salvaged from a Lake Erie shipwreck displayed on the grounds of the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The upstairs living quarters the keeper's home is a museum dedicated to the different branches of the military with donations of artifacts from local residents.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The sink in the keeper's kitchen in the Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum.
A Closer Look: The Dunkirk Lighthouse, shining over Lake Erie for nearly 200 years
The toweru2019s light was electrified in 1923 and around 1962, Dunkirk Lighthouse was unmanned as boat traffic in the Dunkirk harbor began to slow. The lighthouse is open daily except Sunday. Guided tours include a climb to the top of the lighthouse, the veteran museum and gift shop.
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…