The light, situated at the far eastern end of Presque Isle State Park, helps mariners as they traverse the narrow inlet between Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay.

[1] Originally constructed as a wooden tower in 1830, that light was swept away by a schooner in 1857.

[2] The current structure was forged in France and assembled on site in Erie.

The United States Coast Guard, which operates the beacon, changed its fixed red beam to an automated red flashing light in 1995, at which time the 4th order Fresnel lens was sent to the Erie Maritime Museum.

The image of the light on the stamp was one of the last works done by artist Howard Koslow.