Chicago Harbor Light has guided ships into Chicago’s harbor since 1832, making it one of the Great Lakes’ oldest navigational aids. The current structure, a white steel tower with a red lantern room, sits at the end of the northern breakwater protecting the Chicago Harbor entrance. Still an active U.S. Coast Guard navigational aid, the lighthouse is not open to the public and cannot be climbed. The best photography opportunities come at sunrise from Navy Pier or the Lakefront Trail, when the light catches the city skyline behind it. Nearby attractions include Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the Chicago Riverwalk, and the Architecture Center boat tours along the Chicago River.

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