History:
In 1910 the management of navigational aids was handed over to the newly-created Bureau of Lighthouses, headed by a practical and thrifty chief named George Putnam. Within months Putnam began tightening up the purse strings and making more efficient use of funds. A long overdue appropriation of $42,000 was made to improve Fairport Harbor. It provided for a new lighthouse and foghorn on the west breakwater pier head and the deactivation of old Fairport Lighthouse.

But the nation went to war before the funds could be spent. Construction of the new lighthouse was delayed until 1921. It was completed and placed in service in 1925, the centennial of the original lighthouse. The new, 38-foot Fairport Breakwater Light had been prefabricated at Buffalo Lighthouse Depot in 1921 and shipped 147-miles across the lake to its destination, where it was quickly assembled. About $10,000 had been saved by this method of construction.

Latitude/Longitude: 41°46'N 81°15'W

• From I90, take exit 200 and head north on OH-44.
• Take OH-44 for 3.9 miles and merge onto OH-2 West (which is still OH-44).
• In 0.9 miles take the exit for OH-44 north.
• In 2.4 miles you'll be at the entrance to the park.
• Park at the farthest end of the parking lot. At the far corner of the parking lot you'll see a walking trail that leads away from the parking lot. Take that path and follow it through the bushes and trees to the start of the breakwater (the path will become very sandy).

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