CLEVELAND — The city's historical Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light being auctioned off as part of a program that aims to preserve historical properties.

What You Need To Know

  • The U.S. General Services administration said Cleveland Harbor is among 10 lighthouses that are either being given away at no cost or sold at an auction, which is a record number of lighthouses being offered to the public

  • The process of auctioning off lighthouses was made possible with the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, which maintains the goal to preserve the properties as time goes on

  • This isn't the first time Cleveland Harbor has had a notice of availability

The U.S. General Services administration said Cleveland Harbor is among 10 lighthouses that are either being given away at no cost or sold at an auction. These lighthouses have been deemed not needed for different reasons. For Cleveland Harbor, it "has been determined to be excess to the needs of the United States Coast Guard (and) Department of Homeland Security."

The process of auctioning off lighthouses was made possible with the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, which maintains the goal to preserve the properties as time goes on.

The structure was built in 1911 and became automated in 1965. It also housed a Coast Guard station until 1976. It was built at the same time as the East Pierhead lighthouse to help guide ships to the entrance of the Cleveland Harbor, according to the United States Coast Guard.  Prior to these two being built, a light station was once in the area since 1831.

A man fishes off the pier in Cleveland, Ohio, with Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light in the background. (Spectrum News 1/Lydia Taylor)

It's only accessible by water, but it's an easy sight to see from the pier. It's most known for its winter transformation; as waves crash into it and the weather drops, it becomes encassed in ice. 

This isn't the first time Cleveland Harbor has had a notice of availability. It was once available in 2010. It was also up for grabs in 2021. 

For those who are interested, the GSA said it is now being made available to the following:

  • Federal agencies
  • State and local agencies
  • Nonprofit corporations
  • Educational agencies or community development organizations for educational purposes
  • Park, recreational, cultural or historic preservation purposes

Anyone or any group who acquires it must maintain it according to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, according to the GSA. 

Those who are eligible must submit a letter of interest to the address below within 60 days from the date of the notice, which was posted on May 13.

Letters of interest should include:

  • Name of property
  • Name of eligible entity
  • Point of contact, title, address, phone and email
  • Nonprofit agencies must provide a copy of their state-certified articles of incorporation before the end of the 60-day notice period

Letters of interest should be directed to:

Mr. Arthur T. Ullenberg
U.S. General Services Administration
Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division
Chicago Operations Branch
230 S. Dearborn Street
Room 3540 for U.S. Mail or Room 3329 for UPS/FedEx
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Telephone: 312-353-6039 Email: arthur.ullenberg@gsa.gov

This year is a record year for lighthouses being offered to the public, according to GSA.

The six that have been issued a Notice of Availability include: 

  • Lynde Point Lighthouse, Old Saybrook, Conn.
  • Nobska Lighthouse, Falmouth (Woods Hole), Mass.
  • Plymouth/Gurnet Lighthouse, Plymouth, Mass.
  • Warwick Neck Light, Warwick, R.I.
  • Little Mark Island and Monument, Harpswell, Maine.
  • Erie Harbor North Pier Lighthouse, Erie, Penn. (But the NOA period recently closed)

Those that are being auctioned off include: 

  • Penfield Reef Lighthouse, Fairfield, Conn.
  • Stratford Shoal Light, East Setauket, N.Y.
  • Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Light, Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light, Chassell, Mich.