Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society
The Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation SocietyTHLPS) is an all volunteer nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve, restore and provide public outreach and access to the lighthouse. The organization has gown in five short years to over 400 members and now owns the lighthouse and leases the original lens to the lighthouse. THLPS is proud of our accomplishments and our members. Meetings are open to all.
The original light at the Toledo Lighthouse, a 3 1/2 order Fresnel Lens made by Barbier and Bernard, is located at the lodge at Maumee Bay State Park and can be seen anytime. The lens has two bulls eyes and one clam shell. The prisms and glass with light made the light visible up to sixteen miles. It is one of three lights of its kind. The Toledo Lighthouse is one of a kind - very unique architecturally . The Toledo Lighthouse Society welcomes the lens moving closer to home.
The Toledo Lighthouse Society is the recipient of two grants that will pave the way for lighthouse restoration. In addition, in 2007 the Toledo Lighthouse Society won the Excellence Preservation Award from the Landmark's Preservation Council.
The Secretary of the Department of Interior approved the application for the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society (THLPS) to own the lighthouse. On April 25, 2007, THLPS received the the deed and keys to the lighthouse. We are all grateful to those that helped with this lengthy process.
Ohio D.N.R. through the Coastal Zone Management Program, provided a two year $48,000 grant for plans and specification for the lighthouse restoration project. Plans and specs will be done by Duket Porter. The Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund just awarded the Toledo Lighthouse Society $14,900 for this project also. The total cost of the project is $102,000. Additional grants will be sought for this project that is starting now. Memberships and festival funds will also be used to pay for this work.
A ramp, dock and lift received some funding from the Lake Erie Protection fund, the Toledo Lighthouse Society provided the rest.
You can view the Toledo Lighthouse from the shores of Maumee Bay State Park through a viewer located on the walkway in front Of the lodge near the marina.
We hope that you will consider joining the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society, Our major annual event is the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Festival featuring boat rides around the lighthouse, island music, nautical arts and crafts, fireworks, food, children's activities and a silent auction. There is also a Christmas Gathering Thursday, December 4th.
The Toledo Lighthouse Festival is July 11 and 12, 2009.
TOLEDO LIGHTHOUSE FRESNEL LENS MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK LODGE
The Fresnel Lens was moved to Maumee Bay State Park Lodge May 13, 2008 and is located in the main lobby.
Jim Woodward moved the lens from the lighthouse in 1995 and moved it again from COSI in 2008.
The lens was enclosed in glass on July 2nd, 2008. The glass sits on a wood base for support. Enclosing the lens was a requirement of the Coast Guard. A lid is being added to protect the glass and to keep out the dust.
TOLEDO LIGHTHOUSE......................
The Toledo Lighthouse can be observed from shore through a viewer in front of the lodge at Maumee Bay State Park near the marina where there is a viewer. The Toledo Lighthouse sits on a crib about five miles north off shore from Maumee Bay State Park. The lighthouse marks the Toledo shipping channel where the waters of Lake Erie meet the shallow waters of Maumee Bay. The Romanesque lighthouse was completed May 23, 1904 and is architecturally unique with buff brick and a rolled edge steel roof. The lighthouse is 4000 sq. ft. and stands 64' high. The boulders were added to three sides of the base in 1989 when the lighthouse was secured by the Army Corps of Engineers.
You can see the lighthouse from shore through a viewer located on the walkway along the lake steps on the lakeside of the lodge.
Toledo Lighthouse Festival 2010 July 10 & 11 Maumee Bay State Park
The area's best waterfront nautical festival...Free admission and parking. A great weekend experience - music, arts & crafts, sand castles, lighthouse photo contest, silent auction, kids rides, food and more.. Saturday 10-8. Bonker's 7 pm until sunset... Steel Drums and more schedule soon
Toledo Lighthouse Society.....
