BlockBefore
Decorative drawing: a harbour light on a stone pier. Not a photograph of this place.

Cleveland East Pierhead Light

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.

From the record

one of 338 National Register listings in Cuyahoga County · listed in 1991 · category: Structure · one of 3 National Historic Landmarks in Cuyahoga County.

Sources: the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 structure as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. E breakwater pierhead, entrance to Cleveland harbor, Cleveland
  • When was it listed? 1991-12-19
  • Category. structure
  • Also known as. Light Stations of Ohio MPS
  • Township. County subdivisions not defined
  • National Register reference number. 91001855 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Specimens collected near this property

12 of 2,751 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. Museums hold 2,751 specimens collected within 10 miles of Cleveland East Pierhead Light between 1849 and 1975: 2,344 Animalia, 211 Fungi, 117 Plantae, 73 Protozoa, 5 Unrecorded, 1 Chromista. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A. D. Huryn, A. D. Selby, A. G. Newhall and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Image SpeciesYear Collected by Where, as recorded
Specimen of Monilia sitophila (Mont.) Sacc.Monilia sitophila (Mont.) Sacc.1894Seymour, Arthur BlissCleveland, O. [Ohio]
Specimen of Osmunda claytoniana L.Osmunda claytoniana L.1894Winkler, H.J.Cleveland.
Specimen of Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw.Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw.1897Winkler, H.J.Woods, Cleveland.
A photograph of the species Setophaga americana, not of this specimenSetophaga americana (Linnaeus, 1758)1849Jared P. KirtlandRockport
Boraginaceae1850not recordedCleveland.
A photograph of the species Carex canescens, not of this specimenCarex canescens L.1850Illegible collector nameCleveland.
A photograph of the species Catillaria tricolor, not of this specimenCatillaria tricolor (Lam.) Th.Fr.1854G. DixonCleveland, Bousdale Hill
A photograph of the species Melanerpes carolinus, not of this specimenMelanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758)1854Robert KennicottCleveland
A photograph of the species Abrothallus parmeliarum, not of this specimenAbrothallus parmeliarum (Sommerf.) Nyl., 18691860Mudd Wm.Cleveland
A photograph of the species Thryothorus ludovicianus, not of this specimenThryothorus ludovicianus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790)1860not recordedCleveland
A photograph of the species Villosa iris, not of this specimenVillosa iris (I.Lea, 1829)1863H. Elliott
A photograph of the species Colaptes auratus, not of this specimenColaptes auratus luteus Bangs, 18981871Collector(s): unknownCleveland

All 2,751 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 19 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 19 workings within 5 miles of Cleveland East Pierhead Light: 10 unknowns, 6 producers, 2 past producers, 1 plant. 7 still produce. What was taken out: Iron, Zirconium, Silica, Halite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
(Facility) Hanna Nickel Smelter/ Cleveland, OhNickelPlant
Brush Wellman/ Cleveland, OhioBerylliumProducer
Cleveland MineHalitePast ProducerHalite
Cleveland MineSaltProducer
Cuyahoga Lime Company PlantCalciumProducer
Dock Number 1, Whiskey Island MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast ProducerSedimentary
Great Lakes-St Lawrence/ ClevelandFluorine-FluoriteProducer
Mcgean Chemical/ Cleveland, OhioAntimonyUnknown
Metallurgical Inc/ Cleveland, OhioIron, AluminumUnknown
N. L. IndustriesLeadUnknown

Every working recorded in Cuyahoga County

Storms near this property

60 of 95 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Cleveland, the town this property stands in, in 95 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 51 thunderstorm wind, 26 hail, 11 flash flood, 3 lightning. The reports record 3 deaths and 6 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 1997Thunderstorm WindCleveland2 killed, $75,000During a sailboat race on Lake Erie, two people who were not wearing life preservers, were swept overboard by high waves and drowned. A total of four boats capsized and twelve people were swept overboard.
August 1996LightningCleveland1 killedno account filed
June 2003Thunderstorm WindCleveland3 hurt, $5,000Thunderstorm wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph blew down two large tents on the west side of Cleveland. Three people inside were injured when the tents collapsed. One person was hospitalized. A peak wind gust of 36 mph was measured at nearby Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
July 1996LightningCleveland3 hurtno account filed
August 2007Flash FloodCleveland$2,500,000During the afternoon hours of the 2nd, a severe thunderstorms moved over downtown Cleveland. This thunderstorm remained nearly stationary over the downtown area for around an hour, and dropped as much as four and a half inches of rain. Several rainfall reports of 3.0 to 4.5 inches were received from downtown Cleveland. This rain fell in less than 90 minutes. Local streets and highways throughout the downtown area quickly filled with water. Many roads, including Interstate 90 were impassable by flood waters as much as four feet deep. Many vehicles became stranded in the flood waters. Once the rain ended, the high water receded quickly. This was a very local event in Cuyahoga County as the southern part of the county remained mainly dry. In fact, Cleveland Hopkins Airport did not receive any rainfall from this thunderstorm.
August 1998Flash FloodCleveland$275,000Heavy thunderstorm rain caused widespread flooding of roads and low lying areas in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs. In Newburgh Heights, Interstate 77 was flooded with three to four feet of water and an elderly couple had to be rescued from their floating car. Over five inches of rain was measured in some southern and eastern sections as storms repeatedly crossed the area for several hours.
July 2000Flash FloodCleveland$250,000Thunderstorms dumped up to three inches of rain on downtown Cleveland during the late afternoon hours. A television station located just east of downtown recorded 2.75 inches of rain in only 48 minutes. Major street flooding occurred and dozens of cars became stuck in water up to four feet deep. Several motorists had to be rescued from their vehicles.
May 2010HailCleveland$75,000Nickel to golf ball sized hail was reported. A few vehicles were damaged.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindCleveland$64,000Broadcast media posted a photo on social media of a large tree that fell on a house on the west side of Cleveland. The time was radar estimated. The media also reported 25,000 residents within the metropolitan Cleveland area lost power. One Giant Eagle grocery store had to throw out all of their refrigerated items after losing power. Tree limbs were also reported down on Martin Luther King Boulevard.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindCleveland$50,000Entire roof was blown-off a building at an auto wrecking facility at the corner of Storer Avenue and West 65th Street in Cleveland.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindCleveland$50,000Thunderstorm winds downed many trees and large limbs along the Lake Erie shoreline.
May 2010HailCleveland$50,000Golf ball sized hail was reported. A few vehicles were damaged.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindCleveland$40,000Thunderstorm winds downed three large trees in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. Two of the trees landed on houses causing some damage.
September 2020Flash FloodEast Cleveland$35,000Road eroded by flood waters on Superior Ave and South Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland$25,000Two trees downed in Cleveland Heights. One of these trees fell through a house.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland$25,000Many trees down in Cleveland Heights with some falling on homes and cars. The AWOS at Cuyahoga County Airport reported a wind gust to 58 mph.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindCleveland$25,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Cleveland.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindCleveland$25,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
July 2011Flash FloodCleveland$20,000Rainfall amounts of 2 to 3.5 inches fell over Cleveland during a span of 60-90 minutes. Citywide flooding resulted as storm water systems were overwhelmed. Many roads including I 480 were flooded and closed for a brief period.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindCleveland$20,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees.
June 1996Flash FloodCleveland$20,000no account filed
September 2010HailCleveland$15,000Thunderstorms produced half dollar size hail.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindCleveland$15,000Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Cleveland and Garfield Heights.
February 2017FloodCleveland$10,000The Big Creek in Cuyahoga County (drainage basin 35.3 square miles) cuts through parts of Brooklyn and Cleveland before draining into the Cuyahoga River. On the morning of the 7th radar estimated rainfall amounts between 1.5 and 1.75 inches over the Big Creek basin. Some roads adjacent to the creek were closed. Most notably, the Cleveland Metropark Zoo was closed as water flooded their parking lots and threatened the veterinary clinic and other buildings.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindCleveland$10,000Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees on the east side of Cleveland.
May 2011HailCleveland$10,000Thunderstorms produced a swath of pea to quarter sized hail.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland$10,000Several trees were reported down.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindCleveland$10,000Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees on the west side of Cleveland.
August 1996LightningCleveland$10,000no account filed
August 2007Thunderstorm WindCleveland$6,000Large tree limbs were reported down.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindCleveland$6,000A few trees and power lines were reported down.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindCleveland$6,000Trees were downed.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed a tree on West 119th Street. The tree landed on a car causing some damage.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Several trees were reported down.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Cleveland and North Royalton.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed three trees on the west side of Cleveland.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000Trees were downed.
August 1994Thunderstorm WindCleveland$5,000no account filed
September 2010Thunderstorm WindCleveland$4,000Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindCleveland$4,000A few trees were reported down.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindCleveland$4,000Several large limbs were reported down.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland$3,000Local law enforcement reported trees down in Cleveland Heights. Streets impacted include Euclid Avenue, Yellowstone Road, and Hampshire Road.
September 2018Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland$3,000Thunderstorm winds snapped a pine tree along Wyatt Road near Forest Hill Park. A couple trees nearby were also downed.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland$3,000Thunderstorm winds downed two trees.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindCleveland$2,000Tree downed onto vehicle along 2000 block of Lark Street in Lakewood.
May 2004HailCleveland$2,000Quarter size hail was observed.
June 2002HailCleveland$2,000Dime size was observed.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindCleveland$2,000Trees were downed.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindCleveland$1,000A tree was blown down on a fence on the west side of Cleveland.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindCleveland$1,000Several power lines were blown down along with large tree branches.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindCleveland$1,000A tree fell on a highway east of downtown Cleveland.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindCleveland$1,000Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree branches.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindCleveland$1,000Thunderstorm winds downed a tree.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland-Tree downed in South Euclid.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindCleveland-Large tree limbs downed along the Detroit Shoreway in Cleveland. Location estimated.
January 2023Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland-Three trees downed in Cleveland Heights. Another tree was downed near the corner of Euclid Avenue and Richmond Road.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland-Numerous trees downed in and near Cleveland Heights.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland-Two trees downed in Cleveland Heights. One of the trees broke through the roof of a garage.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindEast Cleveland-Two trees downed along Taylor Road, between East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.

Every storm recorded in Cuyahoga County

Newspapers printed here

0 digitised pages

16 papers published in this town, digitised by the Library of Congress and free to read: 0 issues, 0 pages. Every page is searchable, so a name or a street can be looked for directly in what the town printed about itself at the time.

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

From the nomination file

1,399 words on record

When this property was proposed for the National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is, and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain. It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s typewriter's.

Statement of significance

Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Significant Dates Col. W. I. Fisk Together with its larger twin, the Cleveland West Pierhead Light "pressing need" to repair the Cleveland West Pierhead Light, a circular of the new breakwaters, on May 27, 1908, appropriated $45,000 for construction of two lights marking the new entrance to an expanded harbor.

wooden tower clad with corrugated iron first established in 1869 and by whom, unfortunately, is not known--under a single contract in 1909-10 LX See continuation sheet Transportation 1909-10 Architecture Significant Person This property meets the requirements for registration set forth in the Architect/Builder Pierhead Light was tended by keepers stationed in the West Pierhead Light (previously listed in the National Register),the Cleveland East Pierhead By 19o0,Cleveland was one of the busiest and most important harbors on the The Board authorized stopgap repairsin construction play a vital role in the safe navigation of Cleveland Harbor. (the principal harbor both were automated in 1959.

rebuilt in 1875.Both the East and West Pierhead Light towers were built-- earlier stone tower on the bluff at Water (later renamed West Olocally Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) Great Lakes, with heavy traffic in iron ore, stone, and lumber. from plans and specifications prepared by Col. W. L. Fisk, Corps of Engineers, Tenth Lighthouse District, Buffalo, New York. The contract included raising the foundation pierheads 14 feet above mean lake level. on arrowhead breakwaters built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1904- wooden tower clad with corrugated iron and shingles that had replaced an breakwater tower showing a Fresnel fourth-order oil-vapor flashing light, both light towers, excluding lenses, was $43,028.

Read the complete 1,399-word case file.

The whole case file for this property - 1,399 words, 11 pages, reproduced complete.

Quoted from the National Register nomination for reference 91001855, 11 pages, held by the National Archives in Record Group 79. See the catalogue record.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 91001855 in Record Group 79.
Cuyahoga CountyAll 338 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.