Great Lakes Lighthouses - American & Canadian: Book Review

Taking lighthouse jaunts is a popular vacation for those who live around the Great Lakes. Depending on the area, you could visit a half dozen or more in a one-week trip or take a long weekend to visit two or three while taking in other sites. The determined traveler could see even more. Wes Oleszewski's book Great Lakes Lighthouses - American & Canadian is the perfect companion to guide travelers on their way.

The main content of the book is divided into chapters of the lighthouses of each lake. Entries in the form of checklists are given for each lighthouse so light buffs can check off each light they visit. A map is provided at the beginning of these chapters with numbered icons indicating lighthouses. The entries later in the chapter list the number making it easier for you to look back at the map to get a better idea of where they are. Each listing contains the lighthouse name, a photo if available, location, its status (explained further below), lighthouse type (as in brick, conical, etc.), access available, and a short blurb about the light's history.

The author gives the status of the lights being either active, inactive, whether it is in ruins or on private property. He also states if there is a museum onsite. Keep in mind that this book was published in 1998 and not all information may be up-to-date. However, in the last five years my husband and I have used it as a guide, all of the information has been correct. We did confirm it though by doing an internet search for phone numbers of the places we wanted to visit if available, especially if there was a museum at the site.

While this isn't a coffee table style book with glossy photos, it isn't just packed full of dry checklists either. Mr. Oleszewski is an award-winning author of Great Lakes maritime books including Keepers of Valor and Lighthouse Adventures: Heroes, Haunts, and Havoc on the Great Lakes. He has a particular talent for sharing stories of the little-known history of the region.

Interspersed throughout Great Lakes Lighthouses are chapters on the history of the lakes themselves, lighthouse facts as well as shipwreck tales all told by an author who obviously has a love for the area. The book is of convenient trade paperback size and is easy to carry with you on your vacation. I highly recommend it as a guide for new and experienced lighthouse travelers alike.