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Lighthouses in Illinois

9 lighthouses in Illinois with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Cook County has the most (8). The darkest skies are at Four Mile Crib Light (Bortle 8).

Top lighthouses

Chicago Harbor LightLighthouse
Chicago Harbor LightCook County
Grosse Point LightLighthouse
Grosse Point LightCook County
Waukegan Harbor LightLighthouse
Waukegan Harbor LightLake County
Wilson Avenue Crib LightLighthouse
Wilson Avenue Crib LightCook County
Chicago Harbor Southeast Guidewall LightLighthouse
Chicago Harbor Southeast Guidewall LightCook County
William E. Dever Crib LightLighthouse
William E. Dever Crib LightCook County
Lighthouse
Four Mile Crib LightCook County
Lighthouse
68th Street Crib LightCook County
Lighthouse
Grosspoint LighthouseCook County

Lighthouses by county

Map

How to photograph lighthouses

Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.

  • During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
  • Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
  • Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
  • A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
  • Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.

Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.