Oswego Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse is an active aid to navigation located off the coast of Oswego, New York. It was built in 1934 to replace an earlier light constructed in 1880. It stands at the end of a 2000ft breakwater at mouth of Oswego River, extending.5 miles (.8 km) out onto Lake Ontario. It is accessible by boat or from land over the abutting breakwater. It is not open to the public. It is owned by the City of Oswego and operated by the United States Coast Guard. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.HistoryThe original lighthouse on the location was constructed in 1889 when the second breakwater for the harbor was built. This light stood until 1934 when the present lighthouse was constructed. In 1936 an attached one story keeper's quarters was added.On December 4, 1942, a boat used to transfer keepers of the light capsized during a change of keepers. Six coast guardsmen died in this incident. The station remained manned until 1968 when it was automated.The six were: GINSBURG, IRVING SN2 OSWEGO STATION NYHOLDSWORTH, LESLIE J. SN1 OSWEGO STATION NYJACKSON, KARL H. BM1 OSWEGO STATION NYSPRAW, RALPH J. MM2 OSWEGO STATION NYSISSON, EUGENE C. BM2 OSWEGO STATION NYWILSON, ALSTON G. LT OSWEGO STATION NYThe original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed to the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego in 1995. In December 2000 the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
