Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse

Rochester, United States

3.5

4 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 585-621-6179
Website:
www.geneseelighthouse.org
Address:
70 Lighthouse St, Rochester, NY, 14612
Charlotte
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Bussiness info

Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Rochester) 09:28 Thursday, 26 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Saturday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Museum and Lighthouse tours.

$ 5 for 18 and over. Under 18 are free!

History

Established in 1822.

Museum & Tower are open May-​November.

Our story begins in 1791 when Massachusetts pioneer, William Hincher, acquired the land where the lighthouse stands today, built a log cabin to house his family. He was soon joined by other marine traders. As commercial marine trade increased, so did the need to establish a lighthouse for safely guiding boat traffic in and out of the «Port of Genesee». In 1822 the US government acquired the bluff and solicited proposals to «build a lighthouse, lantern, dwelling house and well» at the mouth of the Genesee.

Ashbel Symond’s bid of $ 3,301 was accepted and today his forty-​foot high octagonal tower, with its distinctive Medina sandstone façade, dominates the site an is America’s oldest surviving lighthouse on Lake Ontario.

Operated by the federal government, the Genesee Light Station fell into gradual disuse. When the federal government decided to abandon the site in 1982, community activists formed a society to preserve the site.

Nearby

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4 reviews of Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse

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Place rating: 3
Rochester, NY
I didn’t even know this place existed at the end of the river boardwalk. Very cool little spot to checkout, only the gift shop was open the day I happened by but the history of it would be cool to know, especially since I recently heard the stories of the bootleggers that used to come through the river.
Place rating: 4
Montgomery, NY
The top of the lighthouse is a beautiful view of the entire area. The lady giving the tour gave a quick but interesting educational spiel. I had a skirt on climbing to the top of the lighthouse gave everyone more than they bargained to see, I recommend pants or shorts if you plan to climb to the top if you’re a modest lady.
Place rating: 4
Rochester, NY
Not a bad little side trip to make.
You do have to pay to climb the light house but the cost is only $ 3.
Helpful staff explain everything to you.
Great photo ops but the thing takes less than hour so don’t go too far out of the way.
Place rating: 3
Rochester, NY
It’s a lighthouse! The museum itself is located in the house next door to the lighthouse and there isn’t much to see. It’s a little diversion though while you wait for another tour to finish up in the lighthouse itself. Right now they have a little display on Lincoln’s trips to NY — there really isn’t much to see.
As for the lighthouse, it’s nice. You have approximately 40 stairs to climb before you reach the top. Once you’re up to the top you can see out over the lake and the guide gives you a little background on the area and the lighthouse itself. If you’re in the area it’s a pleasant enough diversion, but it’s not going to be the greatest hour of your life — plus it’s SUPER HOT up top so if you can’t survive without air conditioning don’t make the trip up the lighthouse.