Chicago Harbor Light, Illinois

What is Chicago Harbor Light?

This is an active lighthouse, now run automatically rather than by a keeper. It rises roughly 66 feet from the southern end of the northern breakwater, the long barrier that shelters the harbor from the open lake. The design is credited to the United States Lighthouse Board, the federal agency that built and ran the nation's lighthouses in the 1800s, and the style is described as Chicago School.

Its position is what makes it easy to picture: just out in the water beyond Navy Pier, near where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan. Boats heading in or out of the harbor pass close by, and on a clear day the tower stands out against the open water.

History of Chicago Harbor Light

The lighthouse dates to 1893, the same year Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition. At some point in its long working life it was automated, so it no longer needs anyone living on site to keep the lamp burning. Its value to the city is recognized twice over: it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Chicago Landmark.

Visiting Chicago Harbor Light: tips

The light sits on a breakwater out in the lake, so think of it as something to see from shore rather than a place to walk up to. Navy Pier, about 0.5 mile away, gives the best land-based look, and it has food, restrooms and parking. The Chicago Children's Museum is about 1 mile away and the Museum of Contemporary Art about 1.7 miles away. A camera with some zoom helps if you want a close shot of the tower.