New York's Once-Destroyed Lakefront Landmark Was Rebuilt Into A Charming Museum Destination

America's past is full of dramatic lighthouse stories. There's the infamous case of Massachusetts' Minot's Ledge Light, ripped away from its pilings and swept out to sea by a hurricane in 1851. Then there's the tale of the Scotch Cap Lighthouse on the remote, stunning Alaskan island of Unimak — the structure was eviscerated by a 120-foot wave in 1946. Others on the list include the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, considered New York's most charming lighthouse, and the Oak Orchard Lighthouse in Kent, New York, a once-destroyed lakefront landmark that's been rebuilt and transformed into a charming museum.  

The lighthouse, now the centerpiece of the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum, has changed locations since its original construction. The square-shaped, 32-foot-tall wooden tower, built in 1871, was initially positioned on a pier on the west side of the Oak Orchard River. Topped with an iron lantern and complete with a keeper's house, the lighthouse stood in its place until a winter storm blew through on December 23, 1916, knocking down both the tower and the pier. For decades to come, the site was almost lost to history, similarly to Punta Gorda, "the Alcatraz of lighthouses," an eerie gem left abandoned in California.

Nearly a century later, in 2010, the Oak Orchard Lighthouse was reconstructed thanks to a grassroots effort that utilized detailed records dating back to 1909. This time, the landmark was placed on firmer ground on the other side of the Oak Orchard River, still facing Lake Ontario. Travelers can climb a ladder up to the third floor of the tower to view the lantern, now a Marine LED lantern with a 250-millimeter Fresnel 360-degree lens that the U.S. Coast Guard operates from April to November every year. While you're up there, take in views over Lake Ontario and the Oak Orchard River below. Then visit the building's museum (which offers free admission), featuring lighthouse-related artifacts and exhibits on its colorful history.

If you'd like to stay near the lighthouse and lake, check out Oak Orchard Marina & Lodging (rooms from $150 per night), a cozy inn just 1.5 miles away. The owners also rent out rustic-chic cottages, and gourmet seasonal cuisine is served at the affiliated Tavern on the Ridge, a 10-minute drive inland. Another quaint lodging option on the way to Buffalo, about a 25-minute drive from the lighthouse, is Hart House Hotel (rooms from $139 per night), a boutique hotel housed in a historic red-brick building in Medina, New York. Just around the corner are several upscale restaurants, including the elegant Zambistro and Harvest Restaurant at Bent's Opera House Hotel, with a stylish patio bar. Oak Orchard Lighthouse is just over an hour by car from Buffalo Niagara International Airport.