Constructed in 1822, this lighthouse is the oldest surviving active lighthouse in America on Lake Ontario. To reach the 12-foot-high lantern room, visitors must climb a tight 40-foot-high spiral staircase, followed by an 11-rung ladder, and then crawl through an opening in the ceiling. The view from the top is worth the effort. The lighthouse is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. through October. New for 2024, two displays funded by a New York State Archives grant include a virtual lighthouse tower tour for those unable to climb and the wheel from the Tug Florence Yates, which was bequeathed by Ben O’Brien and brought by his relatives.
According to lighthousefriends.org, in 1804, President Thomas Jefferson established a seventy-mile port district along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, from Oak Orchard to Sodus Bay, centered at the intersection of Genesee River and the lake. Initially, ships entering the port were guided by a torch on a large pilot tree or a lamp atop one of the early hotels in the region. However, the sandbars at the marshy river entrance posed challenges to ship traffic, so in 1829, two 2,600-foot-long piers were built at the river’s mouth, spaced about 360 feet apart. As land filled in around the piers, the river’s entrance shifted northward, away from the lighthouse, leading to considerations for alternative lighting options for the port.
On the tour, you will hear the fascinating story of how the Charlotte community rallied to save the lighthouse from destruction when the Federal Government abandoned it in the 1980s. The tour guides are knowledgeable and passionate about telling the light’s story.
You can climb the tower
Be warned: It is a tight, 40-foot-high spiral staircase. Then, you climb an 11-rung ladder, and once to the top, you crawl through an opening in the ceiling to access the 12-foot-high lantern room. It’s toasty up there in the summer, but the view of Lake Ontario, the Genesee River, and Ontario Beach Park is extraordinary. A small museum is located in the lighthouse keeper’s home.
Lighthouse Trail and Overlook Project
If you head to the back side of the property, you’ll find a trail connecting with Lake Ave. The lighthouse is also a stop along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail.
More information about Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
Cost: Admission fee
Located in Rochester
More information: geneseelighthouse.org
Explore More
9 Lake Ontario Lighthouses in New York
These lighthouses along Lake Ontario in New York are within a two-hour drive of Rochester. And where there’s a light there’s a sweeping view!
Besides a sandy Lake Ontario beach with ample parking, visitors can enjoy the carousel, pier, lighthouse, and Abbott’s Frozen Custard.
Turning Point Park’s most striking feature is a 3,572-foot-long boardwalk over the Genesee River Turning Basin.
At Genesee Valley Park, the river merges with the Erie Canal and continues north through Rochester before reaching Lake Ontario.
Explore The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail
The Lake Ontario Seaway Trail runs along the southern Lake Ontario shoreline, from Fort Niagara in Youngstown to Fort Ontario in Oswego.
Have you visited the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse?
I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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