Third Friday Presents: Grosse Point Lighthouse
Friday, May 15 at 7pm
The life-saving beacon of Grosse Point Lighthouse in Evanston first sailed over the waters of Lake Michigan on March 1st, 1874, as the leading navigational aid into Chicago’s harbor. In this presentation, keeper Don Terras discussed the history and adaptive use of Grosse Point Lighthouse operating as both a private aid on Lake Michigan waters and a small but important maritime museum under stewardship of the Lighthouse Park District of Evanston.
Donald J. Terras is director of The Lighthouse Park District in Evanston and also the district-operated Grosse Point Light Station national landmark under the title of Lighthouse Keeper. Don’s work at the lighthouse has been recognized with the Driehaus Award from Landmarks Illinois, Professional of the Year Award from The Illinois Association of Museums, and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Evanston Preservation Commission. His publications include Grosse Point Lighthouse: Landmark to Maritime History and Culture and Lighthouses of Chicago Harbor. He also co-wrote the script for the video Grosse Point Lighthouse: Landmark to Great Lakes Maritime History, which won an award for superior achievement from the American Association for State and Local History. Mr. Terras was also senior lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago where he taught Museum Studies, receiving two faculty achievement awards during his 24-year tenure there.