Fairport Harbor Marine
Museum & Lighthouse

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Upcoming Events                                               August 1st – Lake Erie Diver Program at FHPL                                                              August 2nd – Pirate Triathlon                                                          August 15th – International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend                            * Check Event Calendar for Details*                   .

            

Lighthouse Marine Museum
History

1825 – 1871               1871 – 2026

Fairport Harbor Marine Museum & Lighthouse

    The museum was founded in 1945 by the Fairport Harbor Historical Society, which is devoted to preserving and perpetuating the historic tradition of Fairport Harbor and the Great Lakes area.
    The original lighthouse was completed in 1825. The tower stood thirty feet high, capped with an octagonal-shaped iron lantern. The lighthouse was accompanied by a two-story keeper’s house. Due to deterioration the tower and keeper’s house had to be replaced. Rebuilt in 1871, the tower now stands sixty feet high and has a spiral staircase of 69 steps which leads to an observation platform. In 1925 the light in the tower (a third-order Fresnel lens) was discontinued. It was replaced by a combination light and foghorn station which was built on the west breakwater pier head.
   The museum houses a number of artifacts pertaining to life on the Great Lakes and other maritime exhibits. Attached to the museum is the former pilothouse from the Great Lakes carrier the “Frontenac”.

The Fairport Harbor Lighthouse
is featured in an America250
PBS/ History Channel Documentary

A Slave’s Journey to Freedom
on the Underground Railroad to
Fairport Harbor & Canada.
“I’m Goin’ Home” is available to
watch online anytime.

Click Here to watch

I’M GOIN’ HOME

U.S. Lighthouse Society Podcast
Light Hearted- featuring
Marty O’Gara and John Ollila from FHHS

United States Lighthouse Society Podcast


Visit the Museum

Since 1945 the keeper’s dwelling has been home to the museum’s outstanding collection of Fairport Harbor and Great Lakes maritime history. As you tour the various exhibit rooms, you should note some of the important artifacts in our collection.  Items on current display are thematically arranged and may be temporarily removed in a given season to ensure ‘new’ visitor experiences.

Online Archives

The Museum is located on the first floor of the old Lighthouse Keepers House built in 1871. The space is small and the Fairport Harbor Historical Society has a rotating physical collection. Online archives are permanent and are being constantly updated .

Mardi Gras Archives

The Historical Society has the pictures and files from the Mardi Gras Committee that was disbanded in 2025.

Diamond Alkali

AlkaLines was the monthly newsletter of the Diamond Alkali Co. located in Fairport Harbor. The issues online are during WWII. Many local residents worked there and also served during the war.

Col. Donald Blakeslee

Fairport Harbor resident and Fighter Group Commander.

Tall Ships Visit

The Tall Ships Festival was moved to Fairport Harbor from Cleveland because of the Republican National Convention in 2003

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Events in August 2026

  • August 1, 2026


    August 1, 2026

    A Program at the Fairport Harbor Public Library (Registration required)
    440 354-8191 or https://fairportlibrary.com/

    Dive Team Member Jack Papes will discuss recently discovered  Bark CLOUGH 19th century shipwreck. The site was located roughly 19 miles west of Fairport Harbor by the Cleveland Underwater Explorers (CLUE), a group dedicated to Lake Erie shipwreck research and discovery.
    Fairport Harbor Historical Society member Jack Papes has documented the Clough wreck site. Jack has volunteered with Ohio’s Maritime Archaeology Survey Team (MAST) since 2001.

    435 New Fourth Street
    Fairport Harbor, OJ 44077
    440 354-8191


    August 1, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 2, 2026


    August 2, 2026

    Pirate Triathlon

    Lake MetroParks Pirate Triathlon
    Also plan a visit to the Museum & Lighthouse

    Huntington Beach
    301 Huntington Beach Dr.
    Fairport Harbor, OH 44977

    Event Link


    August 2, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 5, 2026


    August 5, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 7, 2026


    August 7, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 8, 2026


    August 8, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 9, 2026


    August 9, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 12, 2026


    August 12, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 14, 2026


    August 14, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 15, 2026


    August 15, 2026

    Amateur Radio Event

    Event Link


    August 15, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 16, 2026


    August 16, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 19, 2026


    August 19, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 21, 2026


    August 21, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 22, 2026


    August 22, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 23, 2026


    August 23, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 26, 2026


    August 26, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm


    August 26, 2026

    Regular Meeting
    6:00pm at the Museum

  • August 28, 2026


    August 28, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 29, 2026


    August 29, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

  • August 30, 2026


    August 30, 2026

    Regular Hours
    12:00pm – 6:00pm

Fairport Harbor was home to one of the lost crew members and has many other connections to the ship.

Edmund Fitzgerald 50th Remembrance Ceremony

    The Historical Society’s remembrance ceremony was held November 10, 2025 at the VFW Post 7754 in Fairport Harbor. Highlights of the evening were, Bill Simko Fairport resident, who sailed on the Fitz in earlier years. Bill shared his photos and memories of his years onboard the Fitz. Fran Gabor and Debbie Kunsman, nieces of Eddie Bindon, gave a touching eulogy/remembrance of their Uncle Eddie.

Location & Map

Fairport Harbor, Ohio

Street

129 Second Street

City / State

Fairport Harbor, OH

Zip code

Phone

44077

(440) 354-4825

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Upcoming Events                                               August 1st - Lake Erie Diver Program at FHPL                                                              August 2nd - Pirate Triathlon                                                          August 15th - International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend                            * Check Event Calendar for Details*                   .

            

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