Point Abino Lighthouse in Fort Erie an architectural rarity – it’s square!

However, the amount of square lighthouses they are as opposed to the usual round cylindrical ones? They can probably be counted on one hand.

That’s what makes the Point Abino Lighthouse, located on the rocky north shore of Lake Erie in Fort Erie, so unique.

It doesn’t look like a lighthouse – it looks like a medieval castle turret. In fact, take it off the waters of Lake Erie and plunk it in a field somewhere and people would naturally assume it’s part of an old castle’s ruins.

It was constructed in 1917 by the Department of Marine and Fisheries, in response to increased traffic at the east end of Lake Erie to warn ships of the high and low water marks on the rocky shoreline of Point Abino.


Situated on its rectangular base, the Point Abino Lighthouse looks more like the Chess piece Rook than an actual lighthouse.

Since being decommissioned in 1995, the Point Abino Lighthouse has been designated as a ‘Classified’ Heritage Building by the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office, as a National Historic Site, and as a Classified Federal Building.

Said Fort Erie Tourism, “The concrete Lighthouse is recognized for its unusual shape, classical detailing, and efficiency of structural design. The Lighthouse consists of three structures: the deck, tower and fog alarm building.”

Fort Erie acquired the lighthouse from Public Works Canada on April 30, 2003, “for the purpose of sharing this Canadian treasure with the world.”

After that the town began preservation efforts for the next few years “to repair both architectural and historical elements of this structure.”

According to Public Works Canada, the building “is a rare example of a reinforced concrete lighthouse built in a late neoclassical style. It was constructed in 1917 and was in use for almost eight decades. Its elegantly tapered tower, reminiscent in its proportions of a classical column, as well as the rectangular structure housing the foghorn, are embellished with pediments and pilasters, typical features of the style adopted for this lighthouse.”

Point Abino Light Tower was designed by William P. Anderson and constructed by the Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries in 1917-18 to assist navigation at the eastern end of Lake Erie. “The late Classical Revival design, intended to complement the American-owned summer homes nearby, was more elaborate than most Canadian lighthouses.”


The Point Abino Lighthouse under construction in 1917.

Tours typically run on select dates every summer from June to September but Fort Erie has not yet said of the  tours will resume this year because it’s been closed until further notice since June 2020 due to the pandemic.