08/31/2026
Chicago’s First Lighthouse Didn’t Last Long
Last week, we traveled back to a time when approaching Chicago from Lake Michigan could be surprisingly difficult. In 1832, six years before Chicago became a city—the federal government took action.
Chicago’s first lighthouse was built near Fort Dearborn and the mouth of the Chicago River.
The tower was constructed of rubble stone, with a wooden lantern room at the top. But there was a problem: the structure proved inadequate.
And apparently, there was some disagreement about why.
Federal officials reportedly blamed the contractor for the failure. The contractor had another explanation: QUICKSAND beneath the tower!
Whatever the cause, the stone lighthouse developed serious structural problems and had to be replaced by a wooden lighthouse.
It was a humble beginning for a system of Chicago lighthouses that would evolve along with the harbor for nearly a century—and eventually lead to the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse we know today.
Next Monday: The wooden lighthouse that replaced it.
