Welcome to the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
Featuring History of Lighthouses, Charlotte History & Maritime History!
Thank you for your interest in the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse. See the Lighthouse’s current schedule below.
Special Tours may be available during the offseason. Call 585.621.6179. Tours are subject to weather conditions.
ADMISSIONS
Adults 18 years and older $5.00
Children/Youth ages 5 to 17 years old $2.00
Children aged 4 or younger FREE.
PLEASE OBTAIN TICKETS FROM THE GIFT SHOP!
TO CLIMB THE TOWER, YOU MUST HAVE A TICKET FOR EACH PERSON
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2025 SEASON BEGINS
MAY 4, 2025, thru OCT 26, 2025
DAY / HOURS OPEN DURING SEASON:
1:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.; FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
(LAST ENTRY 4:14 p.m.)
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The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society
2024 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SALE
Reserve your Christmas Wreaths by emailing us at “info@geneseelighthouse.org”
to hold the number you want. They will be ready for pickup & paying on Saturday & Sunday!
AT THE CHARLOTTE-GENESEE LIGHTHOUSE
70 Lighthouse Street, Rochester, NY 14612
Phone: 585.621.6179
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024; 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024; 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society returns with its Annual Christmas Sale at the Lighthouse. Plan a visit to find the perfect gift for the Lighthouse, mariner, or history buff at this year’s shopping extravaganza.
Again, we will have our newest mugs and Christmas-decorated wreaths(sorry wreath not discounted). New this year will be our newest Lighthouse Patches and Lapel Pins. We have the large magnetic Lighthouse Calendar for only $2.00 (discount item) (Some available items are sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, posters, etc. Several books about Lighthouses and the Charlotte area are also available. How about a book about the
“GHOST OF THE CHARLOTTE GENESEE LIGHTHOUSE”?
The Lighthouse will give 10% off most items, and members will receive an additional 10% for 20% off. You can join and get a 20% discount if you are not a member.
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CLOSED for the season!
Special Group Tours other times by appointment ONLY, may be arranged by
Calling the Lighthouse at 585.621.6179 any time during the year.
Limited Special Tours during the off season.
The weather may not permit entrance to the Tower, but the Keeper’s House may be open.
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NEW DISPLAYS TO SHARE THE HANDICAP.
As a result of receiving a New York State Archives Documentary Heritage
grant we are implementing two new Displays at the Lighthouse.
A Pedestal Display for use in displaying a trip up the Lighthouse Tower for those unable to climb it and give
them an experience to what they would be able to see if they climbed to the top.
A second item is the TV display showing a Power Point Presentation regarding the Lighthouses of Charlotte.
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A NEW DISPLAY FOR 2024/2025
The Wheel from the Tug Florence Yates.
The wheel from the Florence Yates was bequeathed to the Lighthouse by Ben O’Brien
and brought here by his nieces and nephews: Nancy Caple Johnston,
Elizabeth Riedel, Benjamin Wakefield and James Wolfe.
Using a New York State Grant, we are able to increase our displays with updated equipment. We have a high-definition Video Camera, a stand-alone pedestal for viewing tours inside the Lighthouse’s lantern room. Using a new digital video display, we can project short stores of climbing to the top. We can project a Digital slide show with photos of many of the historic areas around the Lighthouse and surrounding areas of Charlotte.
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STILL ON DISPLAY FROM 2023 IS THE 6 PANELS:
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The Annexation of Charlotte-Jan. 1, 1916
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Ontario Beach Park
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Charlotte High School
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Historic Charlotte
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Port of Rochester
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Along the Genesee River
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GIFT SHOP ITEMS AVAILABLE
NEW ITEMS AVALIABALE ONLINE!
https://charlotte-genesee-lighthouse.myspreadshop.com/all
GIFT SHOP ONLINE BICENTENNIAL ITEMS STILL AVAILABLE
BUT NOT AVAILABLE IN THE SHOP
Order your Bicentennial 2022 apparel ONLINE by clicking on the link below.
All orders include FREE SHIPPING! Get a special CODE when ordering!
These items are available ONLY ONLINE. We do not carry them in our Lighthouse Gift Shop!
Order men’s and women’s t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies here. New items added, Pillow, Tote Bag & Mug!
Click on the following link:
New Link: geneseelighthouseonline.com
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THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF IRONDEQUOIT CONCERT BAND
Was held on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
The Lighthouse, One of two National Landmarks in Charlotte hosting the Irondequoit Concert Band which has been in existence from 1974 till 2024, they have been performing 50 Years of concerts around the Monroe County area.
Once again, they will be set up in the Holy Cross Church north parking lot at 4492 Lake Ave. and people will be using the Lighthouse grounds and Holy Cross grass area just West of the Lighthouse. The Church has been excited to have the band on their property to perform for Visitors that will come from the Church and the surrounding areas of Charlotte, Greece, and Irondequoit. They played the following
* Star Spangled Banner
* Where the Land and Waters Meet (an original composition commission for the band’s 50th anniversary)
* Lion King
* Glenn Miller in Concert
* Great Themes…Great Italian Movies
* Dixieland Jam!
* Symphonic Beatles
* God Bless America
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On Friday, May 3rd, the Lighthouse welcomed a group of volunteers from United Way. We thank them so much for their help. This was our United Way Day of Caring for 2024.
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The Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society is:
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!
Do you have an interest in Lighthouses, Charlotte History or Maritime History?
Do you have a few hours a month to volunteer at the local museum? If you have answered YES – then please contact the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society at (585) 621-6179 or Kathy Connor at (585) 327-4842. Leave a message. Someone will get back to you soon.
We need people to serve on the board, provide tours, help out in the gift shop and gardens, in addition, to helping organize the collection, create finders tools in the archives, and answer information requests. Training will be provided.
Our Volunteers preparing for our 2020 Edition Volume 1 Newsletter
Our latest Newsletter was just mailed out to all of our members. Did not get one, well go to the drop down menue “JOIN” on this site and sign up so that you can keep up to the latest going on at the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse.
STILL ON DISPLAY AT THE LIGHTHOUSE
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Woman Suffrage
August 18th, 1920
The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society celebrates the local women of the Town of Greece who participated in the suffrage movement with a new exhibit and book at the museum. The keeper’s house and tower are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm and group tours by appointment.
On August 18th, 2020 we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It states: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”
New York State had already passed universal suffrage on November 6, 1917, almost 3 years before the 19th amendment, but the citizens of Rochester voted against giving women the right to vote.
The local Charlotte Political Equality Club was formed on November 15, 1892, at the farm of Jean Brooks Greenleaf. In 2018, the Greece Historical Society installed a historic marker with a grant from the Pomeroy Foundation at her farm on Greenleaf Road, now part of Lakeshore Country Club.
Voters for Woman
Three Monroe County Annual Conventions were also held in the Village of Charlotte, two at the Methodist Church on Lake Avenue, in 1893 and 1897 and one at the Presbyterian Church on Stutson Street in 1909.
The exhibit tells the story of each of the fourteen women who are known to have participated in the suffrage movement, most of whom lived in the Village of Charlotte.
There was no doubt many more who participated but their names have been lost to history. Most came from middle-class families and were active in their churches and in other causes.
Winning the Vote in Greece
Among the women featured are Mary Greer Pollard (wife of the village blacksmith), Emma Pollard Greer (teacher and Charlotte historian), Mary Holden Greer (a teacher who found the body of Sam Patch in the Genesee River), Josephine Jones Richmond (daughter of Charlotte’s doctor), and Lydia Loomis East (church organist).
Perhaps the most tireless and well-known local woman was Jean Brooks Greenleaf, who worked with Susan B. Anthony. She was elected Vice-President of the Charlotte Equality Club and was later President of the Rochester club for 3 years before being elected President of the New York State Woman Suffrage Association in 1890.
In conjunction with this exhibit, a book entitled Winning the Vote in Greece is available in the gift shop. Written by Maureen Whalen and Marie Poinan, the book features detailed information on each of the fourteen local suffragists from the Town of Greece & Charlotte.
Special Tours during the off Season or Off Hours can be scheduled by calling the Lighthouse at 585.621.6179 or email us at: info@geneseelighthouse.org
Special Tours during the Winter Months may be limited because of weather condition especially ice on the steps in the Lighthouse Tower.
WANT TO HELP?
DO YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN LIGHTHOUSES, CHARLOTTE HISTORY OR MARITIME HISTORY? OR INTERESDT IN HELPING US KEEP THE FACILITIES AND ORGANIZATION RUNNING. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PLEASE CONTACT US either by PHONE AT 585.621.6179 OR EMAIL US AT: info@geneseelighthouse.org
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; TRAINING PROVIDED:
- Guides to give tours of our Museum & Tower
- Cashier willing to learn the operation of cash register & credit card machine
- Help plan & maintain the grounds
- Gardeners needed on a regular basis to work with our Garden Committee
- Maintenance in the Keeper’s house, tower & other structures on the property
- Short jobs requiring plumbing & electrical experience
- Maintenance
WISH LIST:
- Snow Blower Large that works.
- Storage Boxes, acid-free, for archival materials (assorted sizes).
- Printer: color inkjet, automatic two-sided printing
- Refrigerator with freezer, small size (around 5 ft tall)
Hours & Admissions
There are new displays both inside and outside the museum.
In Season Hours of Operation:
Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open May 3, 2024 till Sunday, October 27, 2024 The last Tour of the Tower is at 4:15 pm. Tours throughout the afternoon and no reservations required except for LARGE groups.
Directions & Maps
Find out how to reach from various directions and a Google Map to find us easily, You an always call or email us ahead to get more information.
Calender of Events
We host a number of events each year, In our Calendar you can find when a event is happening and plan your visit accordingly.
Donate to The Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society
Become a member of the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society and help preserve and interpret America’s oldest surviving lighthouse on Lake Ontario for thousands of visitors who come to explore our site each year.
Donate now and help us carry forward the mission of the Lighthouse Society
View Our Gallery
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE PAST!
Tuesday, July 18, 2023 – Irondequoit Concert Band
The August 14, 2022, BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
BIRTHDAY PARTY
(Our thanks to Don Duyree for his collection of photos that he has taken for us)
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The JULY 12, 2022 Event with Photos
- Thanks to all those in attendance and the wonderful Volunteer Staff of the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society.
- A special Thank You to Holy Cross Church for letting us use the Church Parking lot and green field for seating.
In celebration of the BICENTENNIAL YEAR of the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, the Irondequoit Concert Band performs songs such as the Star-Spangled Banner, Fanfare & Flourishes, Kentucky 1800, Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, Broadway One-Step, MacArthur Park, Folk Song Suite, Big Band Signature, Yorktown’s Centennial March, Hits of the ’20s, and Seventy-Six Trombones.
THANKS TO DAVID MESSINGER FOR ALLOWING US TO USE HIS PHOTOS OF THE EVENT!
