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Beautiful spot! I took my kids to see the lighthouse (make sure you visit during open hours to get the full experience). They have the original keepers house that is now a museum and gift shop. They have one of the original style lens to show the amplification of the light. Plus lots of other history. You can pay $3 to walk to the top of the lighthouse. It is 77 steps and not a hard climb. Once at the top you can walk around the top walkway and see views all around. Next up is the lifesaving station with an original style boat and lots of historical information to read. They also have an area with a short video and other information about the lighthouse and a mini replica. There is a walking path around the perimeter of the park that discusses other pieces of historical information. We spent about an hour checking everything out but you can easily spend a few if you want to read all the information.
Originally known as Sandusky Bay Light Station, The Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest of its kind that has worked continuously on the Great Lakes. In 1923 electricity was added, but before that whale oil, lard oil and kerosene were used to lit the beacons. Nowadays with LED, light can be seen 11 nautical miles. It was built from locally sourced limestone, still standing in all its beauty overseeing the lakes. We visited in October, so it was closed for the season, but grounds around are equally pretty and interesting for a stroll.
It's a great day trip. If you're in Central Ohio you can go there. Just know certain times a year if you go. If you get closer to the water, the mosquitoes are really bad. They'll bite you. They'll get in your hair. They'll be in your car so keep your windows rolled up. Parking is easy. Is plenty parking to get there. Once you're there is areas you can sit, you know you can go out close to the water. If you go in the winter time when the water is frozen you can actually can walk out about 20 ft and it's frozen. Be careful onto the water but it's a nice little getaway if you just want to go up or down depending on where you coming from
We live lighthouses so HAD to check this one out. Check hours as they are limited. We did get the 1st tour at noon to go up! The gift shop is also a museum and interesting! There are restrooms, picnic table, ample parking. Great views ... 75ish steps up then back down but spectacular views!!!
Marblehead Lighthouse in Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio at the State Park is absolutely gorgeous!!! I love this Lighthouse!! This is the Oldest Continually used Lighthouse on the Great Lakes, since 1822. It was built 1820-1822 using Fresnel Lens. There is 2 museums and one gift shop. Great parking area with picnic tables
The park has picnic tables but they are old. Bring a tablecloth. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. You can get near the water on large rocks but they are covered in algae and slippery so be careful. We packed a lunch and enjoyed the views and the sound of the water crashing on the rocks. The mayflies were in full force but they are akin to dragonflies, so fear not. The coastguard building worker informed us that they are a sign of a healthy lake with clean, oxygenated water.
Cool park along Lake Erie. Marblehead is known for the lighthouse. It's just one of the structures. Another is the museum. This doesn't have to be a long visit. It seems to take forever driving to it. It's pretty much all the way at the end of the peninsula. There's a main road and this is the fast way. It's very small considering it's a state park. You can see most of the stuff here in a few minutes, but if you're able to get into the buildings you can learn a few things. It's a very old lighthouse. Unfortunately it always seem like they're closing it and renovating. It offers a good view of Lake Erie. Many of the islands can be seen from here. The park can get crowded so go early to get a parking space.
The lighthouse turned 200 in 2022, and it is a spot that everyone should visit. The lighthouse is not only picturesque, but views from the lighthouse include Lake Erie islands and Cedar Point. During summer weekends you can climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse, and the views are even more magnificent.
I came here on Memorial Day weekend, and it was one of the few spots on the lake that was busy, but not "too busy". "Too busy", to me, means that we were able to find places to sit without people being right next to us, there were open public tables, and there were plenty of places to enjoy the lake views without having to be right on top of someone else. Unfortunately the light house, the museum, and the keeper's house were all closed due to COVID restrictions. This is such a beautiful area! With plenty of lake views, which includes being able to see Cedar Point and Kelly's Island, it is a great place to have a picnic or enjoy some ice cream. The park has picnic tables, there are plenty of rocks to sit right on the shore of the lake, or many people brought their own chairs. You'll definitely enjoy watching the boats, the jet skis, and you'll end up taking A LOT of pictures!
Marblehead Lighthouse State Park is a great spot for a relaxing and scenic visit along Lake Erie. We went last weekend and were able to tour the lighthouse, which was definitely worth it. Admission was $5 per person, and kids 5 and under were free. The volunteers were friendly and shared a brief but interesting history of the lighthouse and how it's been used over the years. Once inside, be ready for a bit of a climb as there are 77 narrow spiral steps leading up to an outdoor observation area. The view is worth it to see beautiful sights of Lake Erie. Even if it's not that clear of a day, you can still see Cedar Point and the Lake Erie islands in the distance. The park itself is very well maintained and offers easy access to the shoreline while still feeling safe and family-friendly. It's a peaceful place to sit, relax, and enjoy the lake breeze and sounds. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. read more
3 months ago
It doesn't matter which season you go to visit this lighthouse, it's always amazing to see! Yes, she isn't super glamorous and the gift shop could be bigger. However, they have added some nice bathrooms and more picnic tables. The giftshop and ability to climb up to the top of the tower is open seasonal. Check before you go if this is important to you. We like to stop at one of the 2 ice cream places close by and take a treat with us to sit and relax. It's a great place to people watch! I have witnessed quite a few wedding pictures being taken there over the years. read more
Marblehead Lighthouse happens to be one of our favorite places to visit here in NW Ohio. The museums are full of nautical items along with the history of the lighthouse. We like being on or near the water, so we usually will walk the grounds then sit on the rocks watching the waves come to shore. We also get a distant view of Cedar Point which is nice. Great place to just exhale... read more
Beautiful spot! I took my kids to see the lighthouse (make sure you visit during open hours to get the full experience). They have the original keepers house that is now a museum and gift shop. They have one of the original style lens to show the amplification of the light. Plus lots of other history. You can pay $3 to walk to the top of the lighthouse. It is 77 steps and not a hard climb. Once at the top you can walk around the top walkway and see views all around. Next up is the lifesaving station with an original style boat and lots of historical information to read. They also have an area with a short video and other information about the lighthouse and a mini replica. There is a walking path around the perimeter of the park that discusses other pieces of historical information. We spent about an hour checking everything out but you can easily spend a few if you want to read all the information. read more
5 months ago
Originally known as Sandusky Bay Light Station, The Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest of its kind that has worked continuously on the Great Lakes. In 1923 electricity was added, but before that whale oil, lard oil and kerosene were used to lit the beacons. Nowadays with LED, light can be seen 11 nautical miles. It was built from locally sourced limestone, still standing in all its beauty overseeing the lakes. We visited in October, so it was closed for the season, but grounds around are equally pretty and interesting for a stroll. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
8 months ago
It's a great day trip. If you're in Central Ohio you can go there. Just know certain times a year if you go. If you get closer to the water, the mosquitoes are really bad. They'll bite you. They'll get in your hair. They'll be in your car so keep your windows rolled up. Parking is easy. Is plenty parking to get there. Once you're there is areas you can sit, you know you can go out close to the water. If you go in the winter time when the water is frozen you can actually can walk out about 20 ft and it's frozen. Be careful onto the water but it's a nice little getaway if you just want to go up or down depending on where you coming from read more
We live lighthouses so HAD to check this one out. Check hours as they are limited. We did get the 1st tour at noon to go up! The gift shop is also a museum and interesting! There are restrooms, picnic table, ample parking. Great views ... 75ish steps up then back down but spectacular views!!! read more
5 years ago
Marblehead Lighthouse in Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio at the State Park is absolutely gorgeous!!! I love this Lighthouse!! This is the Oldest Continually used Lighthouse on the Great Lakes, since 1822. It was built 1820-1822 using Fresnel Lens. There is 2 museums and one gift shop. Great parking area with picnic tables read more
2 years ago
The park has picnic tables but they are old. Bring a tablecloth. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. You can get near the water on large rocks but they are covered in algae and slippery so be careful. We packed a lunch and enjoyed the views and the sound of the water crashing on the rocks. The mayflies were in full force but they are akin to dragonflies, so fear not. The coastguard building worker informed us that they are a sign of a healthy lake with clean, oxygenated water. read more
Cool park along Lake Erie. Marblehead is known for the lighthouse. It's just one of the structures. Another is the museum. This doesn't have to be a long visit. It seems to take forever driving to it. It's pretty much all the way at the end of the peninsula. There's a main road and this is the fast way. It's very small considering it's a state park. You can see most of the stuff here in a few minutes, but if you're able to get into the buildings you can learn a few things. It's a very old lighthouse. Unfortunately it always seem like they're closing it and renovating. It offers a good view of Lake Erie. Many of the islands can be seen from here. The park can get crowded so go early to get a parking space. read more
3 years ago
BEAUTIFUL scenery of the lake and climbing to the top of the lighthouse was very cool! Perfect for some history lessons too!Totally worth the stop! read more
3 years ago
The lighthouse turned 200 in 2022, and it is a spot that everyone should visit. The lighthouse is not only picturesque, but views from the lighthouse include Lake Erie islands and Cedar Point. During summer weekends you can climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse, and the views are even more magnificent. read more
I came here on Memorial Day weekend, and it was one of the few spots on the lake that was busy, but not "too busy". "Too busy", to me, means that we were able to find places to sit without people being right next to us, there were open public tables, and there were plenty of places to enjoy the lake views without having to be right on top of someone else. Unfortunately the light house, the museum, and the keeper's house were all closed due to COVID restrictions. This is such a beautiful area! With plenty of lake views, which includes being able to see Cedar Point and Kelly's Island, it is a great place to have a picnic or enjoy some ice cream. The park has picnic tables, there are plenty of rocks to sit right on the shore of the lake, or many people brought their own chairs. You'll definitely enjoy watching the boats, the jet skis, and you'll end up taking A LOT of pictures! read more
4 years ago
This was an awesome stop during our trip. We learned more about lighthouses and the history about this one in particular. It only costs $3 to go up to the top of the lighthouse which has great views up the 77 steps. The cell phone service isn't so great but it gives more of a reason to enjoy the area. There's a museum where you can purchase gifts and souvenirs. The restrooms are a new addition and the park has over 50 volunteers working the area that's open from 12-4p each day. Stop by and support! read more
3 years ago
A serene and beautiful lighthouse!! So peaceful to sit and view the lake!!! If in the area it is a must see. read more
Still an underrated landmark- improvements to restore the lighthouse - the keepers house and museum and new modern roadways and restrooms are starting to put this finally on the map. Use care and avoid the temptation to hop around on the glacial rock formations that surround the light! read more
3 years ago
Such a fun place to go and even picnic. Great for Photo's. A great time with no cost. There is a $3.00 cost to go to the top of the light. Not an easy trip for the elderly but you can get some nice photos. read more
7 years ago
Lake Erie was where I spent most of my childhood! My dad & I always out on the boat fishing perch & walleye! Some of my favorite childhood memories are from here! Now that I'm old lol I go up as much as I possibly can, which never seems to be often enough! read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
This a great place to stop and have a picnic, relax or enjoy the views. You can enjoy views of Lake Erie, Cedar point, Kelley's island or Put-in-Bay. The lighthouse is beautiful but you should check ahead of time to see when the tours run. P.S be careful in the bedrock at the water line because it is slippery. read more
9 years ago
A weekend called for a short little getaway to one of the famous lighthouses on the north coast of Ohio. We visited the Marblehead Lighthouse on a Saturday. It was full of visitors, but parking was not hard to find. The lighthouse alone is gorgeous, but with the Lake Erie views and Cedar Point in the distance, the area was a sight. We visited a couple different houses full of pictures and history on the lighthouse. It also has a really cool gift shop. We ended up buying a really cool map of all the Great Lakes lighthouses that we framed and put in our bedroom. Great place to stop in a visit, even just for the lake views. read more
5 years ago
11 years ago
Looking for a picture perfect lake lighthouse? Look no further. Marblehead Lighthouse, despite being almost 2 centuries old, looks darn good! I would venture to say it is one of the most picturesque lighthouses outside of the state of Maine I've ever seen. It was built in 1821 at an original height of 50 feet. Nearby is the home of Benajah Wolcott. Known now simply as the keeper's house, it is the oldest home still standing in the county and made of limestone like the lighthouse. Wolcott was the first keeper @ Marblehead and when he died, his wife took over the keeper's duties thus becoming the first female keeper of any of the Great Lakes lighthouses. In the late 1890's renovations grew the lighthouse to a height of 65 feet, several windows were added and it also became the new home of the lantern room previously located on the decommissioned Erie Land Lighthouse. See review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/erie-land-lighthouse-erie?hrid=8jFYg-Iu_drnZ5QCnlu_4g&page_src=shared_via_messages_or_emails Despite reports from multiple resources saying the tower had 15 feet added in 1900, all sources still report the height of the lighthouse @ 50 feet (it's original height). It could possibly have been shortened in latter years or the renovation addition is incorrect. Either way, it is truly beautiful. I always assumed the Great Lakes were calm, but Lake Erie is known for having sudden temper tantrums thus creating the need for this lighthouse. On the day I visited Marblehead, Erie was showing her bad side! The wind and waves were unbelievable. I had no idea these massive bodies of fresh water could be so violent. It was quite scary, but kinda exciting too! It was so violent that the roads on the Sandusky side of this peninsula were closed due to strong waves washing over the street leaving large stones and driftwood in the roadway. It's a good thing I ventured out in this weather by myself while my family stayed at the hotel. There is no way my wife would have felt comfortable with the weather conditions, but I was determined (which might also be code for stupid)! INTERESTING FACTS - The base of the lighthouse is 26 feet in circumference with 5 foot thick walls. - It narrows to 12 feet at the top with 2 foot thick walls. - Light can be seen for 11 nautical miles - Flashes green every 6 seconds FINAL THOUGHTS Marblehead was featured in a Lighthouses of the Great Lakes stamp collection in 1995. Five lighthouse were chosen, one from each lake and it was the sole representative of Lake Erie. Definitely a beauty worthy of visiting. http://www.philosateleia.com/gallery/1995/1995_great_lakes_lighthouses.jpg Also featured on the Great Lakes Lighthouses postcard of the same year: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4a-Z_wnEHoQ/TkZ1TW1qp1I/AAAAAAAAOOk/tNUUr0Wq4LQ/s1600/gus-great-lake-lighthouses-1a094.jpg Be sure to visit the Keeper's House just a half mile down the road. read more
My parents have a little house down the street from this lighthouse park so we come here a few times a year. There's a historical building that I've never been in because it's only opened a few days during the week and only for a few hours. You can go in the lighthouse too but I've never been there when that's open either. There's a cute little compass thing there and a short little trail to walk if you walk down to the boat house, near the water. Sometimes it's buggy back there so be prepared to bail if it's bad enough. Watch out for snakes too. There's some weird old bricks back there that I wish I knew the history behind. There's plaques with history info around the park which is neat. There are public restrooms here but they are nothing fancy. We like to walk down info the trees to where the rocks are and sit in the shade. It's very relaxing and on beautiful days you see lots of groups and couples doing the same. It's a beautiful little park. Kids seem to love going down onto the rocks and dipping their toes in. It is fun to watch the waves crash. Be careful you're wearing decent footwear if you go down onto the rocks as if can be slippery or just walk slowly to keep you balance and you'll be fine. The roots on top of the rocks are pretty too. Plenty of parking as this isn't a place you'd stay very long and spend a day or even a few hours. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
This is what I've been looking for in Ohio...at Lake Erie. Small but neat old lighthouse. Beautiful views! Lake Erie is so big and the first area I saw the water is kinda dirty looking and uninviting. This area is windy with rocks and the water crashing on them. Perfect! All the buildings and the grounds are very well taken care of. Beautiful place and nice people and good history lessons to be learned. read more
Beautiful place. Beautiful view of the lake, the lighthouse and Cedar Point. Free and free parking. The only thing you may need money for is if you want to take a lighthouse tour or buy something at the gift shop. I do highly recommend visiting their gift shop for lighthouse and nautical gifts. I got a coffee mug I love for $5. Also, there is place out by the small gravel parking lot where there are a few buckeye trees. Pick up a few and resist the places selling them! read more
7 years ago
If you want to see the lighthouse, the correct address is 110 Lighthouse Dr. We went to the address listed and it was nothing but a boat launch. Took about 20 minutes to get to the lighthouse. The actual lighthouse was closed due to weather but overall a nice spot to look out and see Cedar Point or some boats. read more
8 years ago
Love love love this lighthouse! It makes you forget you are in Ohio except for when you see Cedar Point across the water. I have been here twice now. The first time I came, the buildings were closed because it was the off season. The second time I came, all of the buildings were open. You can actually pay a very small fee and take a tour to climb the stairs to the top of the light house. What a view! The staircase inside is a very cool spiral but it is a bit steep. 77 steps to be exact. It definitely is not an activity for those who are afraid of heights. My only complaint would be that the tours take up too many people at once. It was challenging to move around at the top because it was so crowded. The gift shop had some cute nautical items. Museum exhibits are free and open to the public. Parking is easy as well. Definitely a nice way to spend the day! read more
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More info about Marblehead Lighthouse State Park
110 Lighthouse Dr
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440
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(419) 734-4424
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Marblehead Lighthouse State Park - parks - Updated May 2026
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