Turtle Island is a very small island located 4 1/2 miles offshore in the middle of Maumee Bay. Half of the island sits in Michigan waters, and the other half in Ohio waters. The lighthouse is located on the Ohio side of the island. The light was constructed in 1866, replacing the original beacon from 1832. The lighthouse became redundant when nearby Toledo Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1904.
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The light was subsequently abandoned, and gradually deteriorated from lack of upkeep and decades of Lake Erie's pounding storms. The island is privately owned now, and the owner is reportedly building & repairing the few residential structures located there. My photo above shows a construction crane that fell into the water recently, and only enhances the island's sense of abandonment.
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