05/16/2026
Last night, on the third Friday in May, members of the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse gathered at the Chicago Maritime Museum for a special Third Friday presentation featuring legendary Grosse Point Lighthouse lighthouse keeper and preservationist Donald J. Terras.
The evening carried an extra layer of classic Chicago energy and traffic as the Crosstown rivalry between the Cubs and White Sox unfolded just down the road at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Cubs won 10–5, for those keeping score.
Traffic was heavy, and the streets buzzed with excitement — but inside the museum, the focus shifted from baseball to lighthouses, history, and the enduring spirit of preservation along Lake Michigan.
The event brought together the Chicago Maritime Museum, the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, and Grosse Point Lighthouse — three organizations united by a shared goal of preserving and sharing the incredible legacy of Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes' maritime history.
In a city that exists because of its remarkable relationship with the freshwater asset we call Lake Michigan, nights like this remind us how important it is to protect, interpret, and celebrate the stories that shaped Chicago’s past and continue to guide its future.
For more than 43 years, Don Terras has dedicated his life to preserving, restoring, and celebrating the historic Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston.
Few people can truly say they have devoted a lifetime to a lighthouse, but Don has done exactly that. Living on the property, managing operations, leading not one but two major restoration efforts, and tirelessly advocating for maritime history, his commitment to the Great Lakes maritime community is second to none.
Throughout the presentation, Don shared stories of stewardship, sacrifice, perseverance, and purpose — stories that reminded everyone in attendance that lighthouse preservation is not simply about saving buildings. It is about protecting the stories, traditions, and memories that connect generations to the water.
His work has inspired countless preservationists throughout the Great Lakes, including many of us involved in the effort to save the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.
Don is also the author of several outstanding books, including Grosse Point Lighthouse: Landmark to Maritime History and Culture, an exceptional work that beautifully captures the history, restoration, and cultural significance of one of the Great Lakes’ most important lights.
But for me personally, his book Lighthouses of Chicago Harbor remains especially meaningful.
It was one of the inspirations behind the movement to preserve and protect the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and helped ignite the dream that eventually became the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.
If you have not read either of these books, I highly encourage you to find a copy through the Chicago Maritime Museum or at the Grosse Point Lighthouse gift shop. They are more than history books — they are love letters to Chicago’s maritime heritage.
As the evening came to a close and guests stepped back out into the bright lights and noise of the city, it was hard not to reflect on the quiet purpose of a lighthouse. Through storms, darkness, change, and time, they continue to stand watch over the water — steady, patient, and enduring.
And perhaps that is why we continue this work.
Because out on the lake, beyond the skyline and beyond the noise, at the gateway to Chicago, the light is still shining.
We encourage you to continue supporting Great Lakes maritime history.
Visit Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston and learn more at grossepointlighthouse.net.
Join or support the Chicago Maritime Museum at chicagomaritimemuseum.org, and be sure to explore their Lady Elgin exhibit, along with the new Big Shoulders, Wet Feet exhibition, open May 15 through July 22 in the museum’s library. This special exhibit features local artists whose work considers water not only as a visible subject, but as an underlying force shaping life in ways that are not always immediately apparent.
And, of course, we invite you to help us continue this work at the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. Sponsorship opportunities are now available for Light the Way: A Night for the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, our annual National Lighthouse Day fundraiser. Visit https://app.galabid.com/ltw2026/items for Sponsorship details!
Your support helps us preserve, restore, and celebrate Chicago’s last active lighthouse on Lake Michigan — and keep its light shining for generations to come.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our Mission at Give.SaveTheLighthouse.org.
