Ontario was once home to about 250 lighthouses bordering the vast Great Lakes. Today, over 130 still stand, most of them active. The Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was the first to be built in Toronto Harbour to assure the safety of ships sailing Lake Ontario. Since then, the majority of lighthouses in Toronto have been made inactive, and many have been moved to new homes. All lighthouse sites are accessible to the public year-round and provide an important glimpse into Toronto's maritime history. Most lighthouse towers are closed to the public for interior viewing.
The lighthouse at Gibraltar Point has been guiding vessels since 1808, making it the second oldest lighthouse in Canada. The 82-foot-high structure is hexagonal in shape and built out of stone. It has been inactive since 1858, but a green light shines from its crown for decorative purposes. Visitors can view the lighthouse by hopping on a Centre Island-bound passenger ferry from the base of Bay Street.
The Toronto Harbour Light is the only active lighthouse in the city. Built in 1974, this 39-foot-tall steel structure is octagonal in shape and painted white with a red top. The lighthouse sits at the tip of the Leslie Street Spit, which is the eastern entrance to Toronto Harbour. Visitors access the lighthouse by entering the park at the base of Leslie Street and traveling the remaining 3 miles on foot or bike. A free shuttle van covers half this distance and operates during the summer months.
The Queen's Wharf Lighthouse was built in 1861 but taken out of duty in 1912 when a new channel into the harbour was built. The lighthouse is 28 feet high, octagonal in shape, made of wood, and features a lantern and gallery. The lighthouse was relocated in 1929 to Lakeshore Boulevard and Fleet Street in western downtown Toronto. Visitors can access it via public transportation or car by heading to Exhibition Place; the lighthouse is close to the entrance.
The 21-foot-tall wood tower called Toronto East Entrance Inner Lighthouse was built in 1906 and remained in duty until 1973. The lighthouse was constructed in a square pyramidal shape, painted white and fixed with a red lantern. A decorative light is now in place. The lighthouse was relocated in 1981 to the Etobicoke Yacht Club and has been recently restored. See it at the entrance to the yacht basin on Humber Bay Park Road West. A sister lighthouse is located just north at the Mimico Cruising Club.
