The first lighthouse was a lantern, which emitted a red light, erected atop a pole on the outer end of the breakwater in 1903.

In 1913 a wooden square tower with a balcony and lantern was built on the breakwater, but it was severely damaged by the wind, though it was repaired.

A violent storm damaged the operating light in the spring of 2000, and the Canadian Coast Guard decided to replace it with the students' replica, which was moved to the end of the pier and activated.

The lake-facing wall of the lighthouse had cedar shakes ripped off and a hole punched through it.

The shoreline of the nearby stone beach was altered by severe wave action.