Why This Cleveland Lighthouse Is Frozen

Each winter, the West Pierhead Lighthouse in Cleveland, Ohio, is frozen over in awe-inspiring layers. Fully encrusted with ice, the lighthouse makes for a quirky sightseeing trip or a phenomenal winter photo shoot.

In 2010, local Cleveland news stations began reporting on a gorgeous natural phenomenon: an ice sculpture rising from the waters of Lake Erie. But this wasn’t a work of art—it was a lighthouse encased entirely in ice, looking like a frosty castle straight out of Frozen. Stunning and ethereal, the lighthouse quickly became a favorite site for photographers and locals who admired the haunting, beautiful collision between a man-made building and one of the Great Lakes.

So, how did this naturally occurring ice sculpture come to be? The West Pierhead Lighthouse, located at the west end of Cleveland’s Port Harbor, nudges up so closely against Lake Erie’s cold waters that it was repeatedly splashed by ice caps caused by gale force winds. The waves crossed the breakwall, and during that particularly freezing winter, it froze over the lighthouse in layers amid subzero air temperatures. Visitors from Ohio and nearby states flocked to the lighthouse to enjoy the unusual sight, while mariners struggled to see the lighthouse’s flashing beacon.

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Tourists and locals view the lighthouse (which many say resembles a fairy castle or wedding cake, with its ornate icicles and elaborate layers) from nearby Wendy Park, a 22-acre public park in downtown Cleveland, or from Lake Erie’s cruise boats that depart from the downtown harbor. Professional photographers, in particular, often make the trek during the holiday months to catch a glimpse of the highly sought-after frozen dreamscape.

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The Cleveland Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse had already made local history once before. The lighthouse, built in 1911, was manually operated by a lighthouse keeper for decades before becoming automated in 1965. Its original Fresnel lens is on display at the Great Lakes Science Center in downtown Cleveland, but the lighthouse is still in use. Its beacon flashes every five seconds to guide boaters to their destinations—that is when it isn’t frozen over!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.