Donald J. Terras

It is difficult to imagine a time when the banks of the Chicago River were lined by scores of tall-masted schooners and steamships. Yet, for the last half of the 19th and into the early 20th century, this river, which trisects the City of Chicago, was home to port operations that made this Midwestern metropolis one of the most commercially important cities in North America. In fact, the historic port of Chicago with its weather-shortened, eight-month shipping season frequently had more arrivals and departures than the year-round ports of New York, Boston, and San Francisco.

As a member of the American Lighthouse Coordinating Committee (ALCC) I was asked to research the issue of public access and programming at historic light stations. I'm no stranger to this topic having been director of Chicago's suburban Lighthouse Park District and the district-operated Grosse Point Lighthouse National Landmark for the last 19 years. Also, I have previously performed research on this topic in 1997.

All museums today face challenging problems with regard to public access and programming. But this is particularly the case in recent years with the growing number of light stations that are opening their doors as a kind of specialized maritime museum.

Standing on a 25-foot bluff overlooking Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois, the Grosse Point Light Station has served as a guidepost to the lake's traffic in and out of Chicago for over 116 years. Its history reflects the triumphs and tragedies of discovery, trade, and progress which marks the development of our nation's interior.