Buffalo Main, NY

Photographer: Roy B. Westin

To the right is the Buffalo Main light with one of the original Breakwater Lights that has been relocated and restored.

Buffalo Main

Buffalo, NY

Built : 1818, 1833

Construction : Octagonal, Limestone

Status : Inactive

Location : Buffalo, New York

Height : 60 feet

Access : Car with parking near the Light. From NY Route 5 exit at Fuhrmann Boulevard and follow the signs East to the Coast Guard Station. The Light is located near the station.

Photographer: Roy B. Westin

Lighthouse History : This Light shares the honor of being the first Lighthouse on Lake Erie with the Erie Land Light, both being lit in 1818. The original Light built here was 30 feet tall. It had a rather dim light, so claims the Captain of the passenger ferry "Walk On Water" around 1820. During this time the young town of Buffalo had hundreds of wood burning stoves that would often block out the harbor entrance with smoke. The Captain of the "Walk On Water" was bringing the ship into port and could not see the light through the smoke. The ship ended up missing the entrance and ran aground near the Light. The debate of a dim light raged on till the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, when it was decided to build the second Light. She still stands today, and is the oldest structure City of Buffalo, still in it's original location (1833).

Photo courtesy of: U.S. Coast Guard