Residents of Evanston, Illinois know all about Grosse Point Lighthouse, but those in the rest of the state may not have ever visited or heard of this incredible piece of history. Scroll on to learn all about how it almost didn’t even get built in the first place.

The Grosse Point Lighthouse is situated in northeast Illinois and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Though it has served an important purpose over the years, it is mostly a museum today.
Flickr/John Martinez Pavliga
After years of plans being pushed off due to the Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire, construction on the lighthouse began in 1872 and finished in 1873.
Google/Sy Guzman
In the late 1800s, the Chicago ports in Lake Michigan saw more boat traffic than the ocean ports of New York and San Francisco, and the rocky banks caused many boats to crash into the shore and into each other.
Google/Jon Rohan

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One of the most well-known was that of the Lady Elgin, which collided with a lumber boat known as the Augusta. While the lumber boat was fine, the Lady Elgin fell apart and passengers were forced to leap from the boat and swim to shore. It is estimated that more than 300 people died.
Wikimedia Commons/Teemu008
Over the next 10 years, more wrecks took place off the coast of Grosse Point, and so residents began to petition Congress for the lighthouse.
Google/Alison Riess
It was certainly agreed that the fixture was needed, but there was too much else going on in the country for the government to allot funds for this project.
Google/Jon Rohan
Congress approved the lighthouse in 1871, shortly after the Great Chicago Fire, and the rest is history. The lighthouse has been kept in good shape and is a landmark for all to view and enjoy still today.
Google/Sy Guzman

If you’ve ever been to Grosse Point Lighthouse, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.

For more like this, check out these 13 places in Illinois that are full of history.

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Grosse Point Lighthouse, 2601 Sheridan Rd, Evanston, IL 60201, USA