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New lens completes Buffalo Lighthouse rehab

Johnny Moran
/
WBFO News

A new lens means the Buffalo Lighthouse will once again illuminate Lake Erie.

Buffalo Lighthouse Association President Michael Vogel said installation of the 500-pound lens caps the $650,000 restoration of the 182-year-old structure.

“In 1987 we put in the original South Buffalo lighthouse lens, which had been in storage, and we fit that lens in there until about two years ago. But the exposure to sunlight and weather conditions were really deteriorating it,” said Vogel.

The new lens was designed by Dan Spinella, an engineer for Walt Disney World. It took two years to build.

Vogel said the new, larger lens is more historically accurate to the tower's original lens, and will be fully operational in June.

He said the lighthouse's restoration, along with recent improvements to Buffalo's waterfront, are bringing more people to see the historic building.

“We’ve seen a dramatic spike in visitation. We’re looking at numbers in the range of 40,000 visitors a year now,” said Vogel. “Next year, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is opening a shuttle bus trolley service along the complete outer harbor parkway that will end at our gate, so we expect another increase from that.”

The old lens has been restored and is on display at the Heritage Discovery Center.

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