Barcelona Lighthouse and Innkeeper's Cottage

Barcelona Harbor

Westfield, New York 

Finished in 1829, this 40 foot lighthouse is the world's first to be lit by natural gas though this was difficult to maintain.  It was decommissioned as a navigational aid in 1859, after only 30 years, due to the decline in commerce and improvements in channels.  The Lighthouse Board noted it was no longer considered necessary. 

The structure is historically significant as one of the oldest on the Great Lakes.

In 1828, Congress appropriated $5,000 for a lighthouse in what was then Portland Harbor.  The tower was completed in 1829 and the first innkeeper was Joshua Lane, appointed in 1829.  

The lighthouse's purpose was tied to the hope Barcelona would become a major commercial center after the Erie Canal opened.  However, the harbor's commercial significance declined after the rise of railroads.

According to the original deed, the property reverted to the Holland Land Company when the lighthouse was discontinued.  In 1872, the property was sold to Lieutenant Governor George W. Patterson for a nominal sum and remained in the Patterson family for over a century. 

New York State acquired the property in 2008 and it is now part of the state park system.   Ongoing restoration efforts has been underway including recent $2.9 million projects to rehabilitate the tower.  The lighthouse is now lit for decorative purposes through an agreement with the town of Westfield.

As of 2025, the exterior stone work has been completed along with the interior stairway with 44 steps to the viewing platform. On a clear day, you can see the shoreline of Canada across Lake Erie at approximately 27 miles. In comparison, the mileage is approximately 32 miles from the Presque Isle pennisula in Erie, Pennsylvania to Long Point, Ontario. 

The area now serves as a state park with a visitor center and museum in the innkeeper's cottage.  It is open to the public and available for tours.