The Tionesta Lions Club has announced an expanded Sherman Memorial Lighthouse tour schedule for this year.
Five tours are planned for the summer and fall season. Tours will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Aug. 12 and 19 during the week of Indian Festival, Sept. 9 and Oct. 14.
Private tours are available by calling Jim McGuire at (814) 755-3672 or emailing orjrmcguire@verizon.net.
Self-guided tours of this beautiful six story structure will be held from 1 to 4 p.m.
As visitors climb the spiral staircase they will see Sherman Family memorabilia and lighthouse collectibles on their way to a view of the Allegheny River from the balcony circling the top.
Admission is $5 per adult, $2 for children ages 13-18 years old and free for children 12 years old and under.
All six floors and the basement can be accessed by spiral stairs — 76 steps to be exact.
For those who can’t climb stairs there is a free video viewing of the lighthouse construction shown continuously in an adjacent, handicapped accessible building.
The lighthouse is located on Lighthouse Island on the Allegheny River at Tionesta. Those traveling from Route 36 or Elm Street in Tionesta, should turn west onto Highland street at the Mid-Town Motel and follow the signs.
For more information, people may call (814) 755-3672.
Submitted photo
About the lighthouse
With the completion of the lighthouse in 2003, Tionesta gained a landmark that distinguishes it on the northwestern Pennsylvania landscape. While serving as a distinctive landmark, the Sherman Memorial Lighthouse is not a public facility. By special arrangements with the Tionesta Lions Club, the lighthouse will be open to the public for scheduled tours. Jack Sherman’s commitment to Lions includes using his working lighthouse for the benefit of Tionesta Lions to fulfill their “We Serve” mission in the community, state, nationally and internationally.
The 47-foot-high tower is based around eight glue-laminated columns and Insulspan Wall Panels making this a one-of-a-kind design in the world of lighthouses. The star on the top of the lantern rooms is 100 feet above the island’s surface.
The pre-manufactured lantern room situated on top of the timber frame tower is made of aluminum and glass and is 12 feet in diameter and 20 feet high with an observation deck with guardrails around the outside.
The tower foundation is octagon shaped, solid reinforced concrete, two feet thick and 18 feet in diameter. There is a basement within the foundation walls. The exterior of the foundation is faced with river rock and the lighthouse is clad in vinyl siding.
The interior of the lighthouse is replete with inlaid hardwood floors and natural finish on the beautiful laminated timber columns. Each floor of the lighthouse houses Sherman family history and memorabilia. The fifth floor of the lighthouse features the construction process of the Sherman Memorial Lighthouse, with photos and construction blueprints.
