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Historic Lighthouses in the Finger Lakes

There are 11 lights and lighthouses in the Finger Lakes. Six are on the shore of Lake Ontario, three are on Cayuga Lake, and two are on Onondaga Lake.

Lake Ontario

Braddock Point Light

On Clearview Ave., off Lighthouse Rd. in the Town of Parma.

County: Monroe

Builder: Not listed

Shape: Octagonal

Period: 1875-1954

Light Status: Operational since February 28, 1999

Owner: Private

Note: There is considerable incorrect information on the Web about this light. It is often listed as the Braddock Bay or Braddock Point lighthouse even though it is 3 mi./5 km. to the west of Braddock Point on Bogus Point. There is no lighthouse at Braddock Point.

The Bogus Point keeper's house is privately owned and operates as a bed and breakfast. It is the only bed and breakfast in a keeper's house in the Finger Lakes. The light itself is operated on an automatic system by the U.S. Coast Guard. The best view of the light and the keeper's house is from the Lake Ontario side. Photo (above) from the U.S. Coast Guard archives.

Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse

70 Lighthouse St.

Rochester, NY 14612

585-621-6179

County: Monroe

Builder: Not listed

Shape: Octagonal

Period: 1800-1999

Light Status: Non-operational

Owner: Local Govt. (Monroe County). Leased to the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Society.

Note: The keeper's house is a museum and open to the public.

Irondequoit Bay Light

On the west pier jutting out into Lake Ontario at the mouth of Irondequoit Bay.

County: Monroe

Builder: Not listed

Shape: Round

Period: Modern

Light Status: Operational

Owner: Local Govt. (Monroe County)

Rochester Harbor Light

On the west pier jutting out into Lake Ontario where the Genesee River empties into the lake next to Ontario Beach.

County: Monroe

Builder: Not listed

Shape: Round

Period: 1995-

Light Status: Operational

Owner: Local Govt. (Monroe County)

Sodus Outer Light

On a pier (off Wickham St.) jutting out into Lake Ontario at the mouth of Sodus Bay, village of Sodus Point.

County: Wayne

Builder: Not listed

Shape: Square pyramid

Period: 1938-

Light Status: Operational

Owner: Local Govt. (Town of Sodus)

Sodus Point Lighthouse

7606 N. Ontario St.

Sodus Point, NY 14555

315-483-4936

County: Wayne

Builder: Not listed

Shape: Square

Period: 1850-1899

Light Status: Non-operational

Owner: Local Govt. (Town of Sodus). Leased to Sodus Bay Historical Society.

Note: Also known as the Old or Big Sodus Light. It is now a museum. See www.soduspointlighthouse.org

Cayuga Lake

Cayuga Inlet Breakwater Light (Port Light)

Southern end of Cayuga Lake

Ithaca, NY 14850

County: Tompkins

Builder: Unknown

Shape: Octagonal red wooden tower sheathed in steel

Period: 1927-

Light Status: Operational

Owner: State (New York State Canal Corp.)

Cayuga Inlet Light

Southern end of Cayuga Lake

Ithaca, NY 14850

County: Tompkins

Builder: unknown

Shape: Octagonal white wooden tower sheathed in steel

Period: 1917, moved to its current location in 1927

Light Status: Operational

Owner: State (New York State Canal Corp.)

Myers Point Light

Myers Park

Lansing Park Rd.

Lansing, NY 14882

607-533-7388

County: Tompkins

Builder: The lighthouse was built almost exclusively by volunteers. There are more than 3,000 bricks in the tower with all bricks having been individually cut and donated.

Shape: Octagonal base, circular tower.

Period: 1998-

Light Status: Operational

Owner: Town of Lansing 

Onondaga Lake

Port Light

Northern end of lake (outlet)

County: Onondaga

Builder: Unknown

Shape: Square

Period: Installed prior to 1992

Light Status: Operational

Owner: State (New York State Canal Corp.)

Starboard Light

Northern end of lake (outlet)

County: Onondaga

Builder: Unknown

Shape: Square

Period: Installed prior to 1992

Light Status: Operational

Owner: State (New York State Canal Corp.)

Updated 23 August 2011