Located east of the city of Celina in Mercer County, the lighthouse was built in 1923,[1] using a plan modeled after the Eddystone Lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom.

[2] A predominantly concrete structure, the lighthouse rests on a stone foundation.

In its earliest years, it operated in a standard lighthouse role between April and November under a license from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Unlike the other two lighthouses, the Northwoods Lighthouse is completely inaccessible by land, as surrounding property owners have completely blocked public access.

[1] Key to its inclusion was its unusual location — western Ohio is a flat, landlocked region far from major bodies of water.