| Piasa Chautauqua Lighthouse |
![]() Alan Culley More Photos Send Feedback |
| Nearest Town or City: | Piasa Chautauqua Illinois United States |
| Location: | Mississippi River, just above St Louis, MO. |
| Notes: | Bert Hampton writes: I have been a resident of New Piasa Chautauqua all my life. The lighthouse was built as a decorative attraction to the riverfront. While it did serve as a marker for riverboats in the days when visitors reached Chautauqua by water, it was never a true navigational aid. In fact its primary purpose was and is to house pumps over the well that feeds the community's water system. Today, drinking water comes into the valley from the Illinois-American facility at Alton (about 12 miles down stream). The old well is, however, still in use feeding the community swimming pool (once the largest pool in Illinois) and as an emergency supplement for fire protection. The light in the top is still maintained and shines nightly from June through August. The intensity was reduced many years ago as a safety factor for traffic on the Great River Road which passes by on an elevated berm just fifty feet or less from the old lighthouse structure. In the great 1993 flood all but the very top of the lighthouse was underwater. The lighthouse actually sits in the right of way of the Great River Road. It is allowed to remain only as long as it is maintained in safe and "respectable" condition. Should the community ever allow it to fall into disrepair, the State has the right to step in and demolish it. Much loved and valued by the residents of New Piasa Chautauqua, the community's annual budget always includes funds for its care. |
| Tower Height: | 0 |
| Description Tower: | Small conical tower. |
| Operational: | Yes |
| Current Use: | Pump house. |
| Open To Public: | Grounds only. |
| Height Focal Plane: | 0 |
| National Register: | No |
| State: | Illinois |
| Country: | United States |






|
LIGHTHOUSE DEPOT ABOUT US AWARDS LINKS SITE MAP |
CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTACT US FAQS EMAIL POLICY PRIVACY POLICY RETURNS |
OUR STORES STORE LOCATIONS CAREERS |
OTHER CUSTOMER COMMENTS COPYRIGHT NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES SHIPPING |
|
ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES |
|