09.24.2022
Marblehead, Ohio: 200 years of lighting the Lake Erie way
*Note: It’s so beautiful here, we filmed our pregnancy announcement video at the lighthouse! Watch it here.*
Marblehead, Ohio, is a quaint Lake Erie village boating paradise with proud history and shops, camping and accommodations, and parks to showcase nature ranging from marshes to beaches. They boast Lakeside, an impressive 135-year-old Chautauqua community. There is more water here then expected, with small lakes and inlet views you can pull off to admire with a packed lunch.
MARBLEHEAD: A QUAINT WEEKEND PARADISE FROM OHIO OR MICHIGAN
Marblehead is a perfect Lake Erie weekend getaway, just 2 hours from Defiance, Ohio (in the NW Ohio corner). It’s in the North Shores, just past Port Clinton and is close to Catawba (famous for peach orchards and vineyards), Put-in-Bay (winemaking history with Victorian-era buildings and party nightlife), and the Middle Bass and North Bass Islands (known for nature, serenity and seclusion). You can see Cedar Point Amusement Park across the Sandusky Bay from the Marblehead Lighthouse. See the formal North Shores tourism website here for dining and lodging, activities, etc.
Ride The Marblehead Ferry To Kelly's Island
*If you want to extend your trip, hop on the ferry and head to the popular and historic Kelley’s Island! It’s a haven for bird and nature lovers, fishing, hiking, shopping, breweries, and more. You can find Native American petroglyphs carved into limestone at their parks. The ferry departs from Marblehead. You can even take your vehicle, including an RV! Find ferry pricing and the schedule here.
For the bicentennial, we had to see the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes, built then lit in 1822 along the shoes of Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay.
|| EXPLORE & DISCOVER ||
One of the most photographed places in Ohio (arguably THE most photographed), the Marblehead Lighthouse celebrated its 200th birthday this year! Be sure to climb the 77 steps up the wrought iron staircase to the top for an amazing experience and views.
The Marblehead Lighthouse State Park season runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day (Monday). During that time, the onsite Keeper’s House and Museum, the Lifesaving Station, as well as the Lighthouse, are open 7 days a week from 12-4. The last tower tour begins at 3:40. The state park itself is open year-round for visitors.
There is a $3.00 (cash only) tour charge to climb the tower for adults and children age 6 or older. Children under the age of 6 are no charge. Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for the onsite Keeper’s House or the Lifesaving Station.
The lighthouse tower tours may be cancelled during times of high wind, heavy storms, and lightning. The museums and gift shop may also be closed during those times as well.)
Keepers of the Light: An emotional, strenuous history
The original light consisted of a fixed array of 13 whale oil-burning lanterns with 16” polished brass reflectors to direct the light out onto the lake. The lights did not flash or rotate, and the lamps had to be refueled every four hours, consuming about 80 pounds (11 gallons) of lamp oil per night. This was obviously a very labor-intensive job! Being a lighthouse keeper was not for the faint of heart.
Over the years, 16 lighthouse keepers have served at Marblehead, along with many assistants keepers. Marblehead boasts the first female keeper on the Great Lakes and has had two women maintain the light over the years.
By the 1890s, the ships on the Great Lakes were getting larger and required deeper water. This forced shipping further from the shoreline and the visible range of the lighthouse needed to be increased. A plan was drawn to raise the lighthouse by fifteen feet. As the architects studied the existing stone structure, they feared it would not support the addition, and it was decided to construct a brick tower inside the original stone structure in 1903. A larger 3-1/2 order Fresnel lens was installed along with a clockwork mechanism to rotate the lens to make the light appear to flash every 10 seconds. This lens is on display in the Keeper’s House Museum adjacent to the lighthouse.
Today, there is no lighthouse keeper; the US Coast Guard maintains the high-intensity flashing green LED light (installed in 2013), which only needs maintenance once or twice a year.
We recommend touring the Lifesaving Station to see some crazy old rescue devices (Google “Breeches buoy”), photos from training missions, and learn about current rescues they have to conduct between 2-4 times per year.
Johnson's Island: “The Most Significant Civil War Site In Ohio”
Johnson’s Island is a 300-acre island in Sandusky Bay. This private residential island’s main allure is the historic Confederate Prisoner of War depot started in 1861. You must pay a $2 toll (cash only) to enter the causeway. It’s worth taking a short drive around to ogle at the luxurious vacation homes located on cliffs with spiral staircases down to the water.
The prison was closed in 1865, but boosts interesting histories of the plays Confederate prisoners would perform and details their decent treatment until 1864 when rations were cut, in response to rumors of poor treatment of Union soldiers in Confederate prisons. Today, you can see the POW cemetery and Fort Site (a US National Historic Landmark), including a famous bronze “lookout” soldier watching their remains. The cemetery holds the remains of more than 200 confederate men imprisoned on the island. See a list of the buried here.
In 1894, Johnson’s Island Pleasure Resort featured a dance hall, restaurant, sleeping quarters, small gas-powered boats to rent, and horses for riding. It was bought out by Cedar Point in 1907.
From 1902 to 1913, a small quarry there was large enough to remove a huge amount of rock and build the break waters in Cleveland, Lorain, and Cedar Point. The workers had a post office, school, tavern, and chapel.
A formal Johnson’s Island Preservation Society and Museum is located in Sandusky. Find details here.
Get Lost In Nature At Meadowbrook Marsh & Sheldon Marsh
Meadowbrook Marsh: Take a short walk and see this excellence sample of a vibrant marsh, bursting with chirping crickets, the splash of birds, giant Lilly pads dripping water droplets, and the background hum of an entire ecosystem at work.
*Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve was another gorgeous site our waiter at JJ’s Bar and Table told us to explore for a hiking haven and secluded photogenic spot.
|| SCRUMPTIOUS EATS ||
If you want a nautical décor theme, this place has it! Delicious breakfast menu, seafood, and home baked desserts. We got coffee served in mismatched old cottage mugs, decadent biscuits and gravy, and an oozing cheesy omelet before the line got crazy long around 10 am! Learn more about Marblehead Galley here.
Experience Yucatán flavors with a craft cocktail bar. Open late until 11 pm, it’s great for a nice dinner after you get off the water. We had mahi mahi, shrimp, and walleye tacos with salmon patties. Napkins needed — the mouthwatering sauces burst with flavor, local ingredients, and tend to drip! Learn more here.
This local gem had a LONG line… and for good reason! Their orange ice cream seems to be popular, as multiple people ordered it. Their fresh strawberry and peach sundaes were also infamous. See their Facebook page and menu.
|| ARTISAN SHOPPING ||
Parking Tip: Adjacent to the Marblehead Gallery is a $2 parking lot with an automated gate (cash only) where you can stay all day or night. We drove an RV, so it was perfect for an overnight stay.
Boutique stores: A half dozen adorable shops are scattered throughout the main strip downtown. Marblehead Soap Company offers handmade soaps, scrubs, chap sticks, essential oils, artisan crafts from locals, aromatherapy, candles, gifts, honey, and much more. Take a photo out back in their GIANT chair. Don’t miss their “Lake Erie Island Series” with lovely and unique smells for lotions, butters, and more.
We also enjoyed the Marblehead Emporium (various assortment of goods and trinkets) and Marblehead Mercantile for their wide array of antiques and gifts.
Are you planning your next weekend trip, yet? Tell us about your favorite spots, so we can see them next time!
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