Historic Selkirk Lighthouse

Standing as a monument to early lighthouse construction and function, the Selkirk Lighthouse is unique in structure and appearance among all of the other lights on the Seaway Trail. Its “bird-cage” lantern, a hexagonal dome of glass and iron, predates those which were constructed to house the modern Fresnel Lens. It is one of only six lighthouses in existence to still have the original unmodified lantern structures.

It was built in 1838, at a cost of $3,000, at the mouth of the Salmon River, in anticipation of the economic growth in the area. Due to silting of the Salmon River, and the failure to attract the railroad, the growth never occurred, and the Lighthouse Board decommissioned the light in 1859. This resulted in the lighthouse and its lantern missing the refurbishing of the period: had the light remained in service, it would have been upgraded between 1858 and 1860.

Its optic was a 14-inch parabolic reflector with eight mineral oil lamps, and could be seen for 14 miles. In 1855, the reflector system was replaced by a Hains Mineral Oil Fountain lamp, a single burner, and a 270° Sixth order Fresnel Lens, 18-inches in height and 12-inces in diameter.

The current owners purchased the compound containing the lighthouse in July 1987. As the key event during Bicentennial celebrations held on August 6, 1989, they officially activated a Coast Guard approved, photocell-activated lamp with automated bulb-changer and are back on the NOAA charts as a Class II navigation aid.

Although private property, the owners rent out the lighthouse to overnight guests.

Selkirk Lighthouse
PO Box 228
Pulaski, NY 13142-0228
315-298-6688
Salmon River Lighthouse & Marina

Lighthouse Hotel alongside the Historic Selkirk Lighthouse

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