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Gibraltar Point Lighthouse (1) Commemorative Plaque, 2008 

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File information File dimensions File size Options

Original JPG File

8400 × 6000 pixels (50.4 MP)

71.1 cm × 50.8 cm @ 300 PPI

5.2 MB Restricted

Low resolution print

2000 × 1429 pixels (2.86 MP)

16.9 cm × 12.1 cm @ 300 PPI

634 KB Restricted

Screen

1120 × 800 pixels (0.9 MP)

9.5 cm × 6.8 cm @ 300 PPI

263 KB Restricted
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Resource details

Resource ID

4895

Access

Open

Credit Line

Heritage Toronto

Date of Creation

2008

Description

Though now away from the lake and nestled among trees this is the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Great Lakes and the second oldest surviving lighthouse in Canada. It was constructed in 1808-09 when this site was only eight metres from the shifting shoreline of Lake Ontario and exposed to violent lake storms. Guiding sailors into York (now Toronto) harbour this lighthouse was also used to hoist flags signalling the approach of ships to the town and fort.

At a time when most buildings in York were built with local materials the lighthouse was constructed of stone from Queenston near Niagara Falls. Its walls are almost two metres thick at the base and were raised to their existing height by adding stone from Kingston in 1832. Its wick lamps which were visible many kilometres out over the lake were fuelled with hundreds of gallons of whale oil per year then coal oil until an electric light was installed in 1917. In 1809 the lighthouse was the only major light on York's dark forested horizon. In 1945 the light was changed from white to green to distinguish it from the bright lights of the modern city.

Program Category

Historical Plaques

Rights

Heritage Toronto

Historical Themes

Architectural Heritage, Parks and Natural Heritage, Toronto Island, Transportation History

Time Period

1794-1834, 1835-1899

Caption

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse (1) Commemorative Plaque, 2008

Consent management
License management
Location Data

Marker lat / long: 43.613278, -79.38475 (WGS84)

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