In 1759, counter-admiral Mordvinov proposed to the Admiralty College to build a lighthouse on the Suurupi Peninsula. The lighthouse began operation in 1760, probably with an open fire. At the end of the 19th century, the dwelling, sauna, oil house, cellar and barn of the light station were completed. The station was surrounded by a high board fence with a limestone base. In the Second World War, the lighthouse keeper’s dwelling was destroyed during the retreat of the German forces. The lighthouse was saved from the worst fate, but required extensive renewal. In 1951, the lighthouse was reconstructed with the height of 22 m and in a slightly different shape. A new generator building was built at the station and the destroyed dwelling was replaced by a new house. In 1998, the lighthouse received a new lantern room and the light equipment was modernized. In 2011, a new LED lighting device was installed on the roof of the lantern room. The height of the light was increased by 2 meters and the light’s directional character was eliminated – now having a 360⁰ visibility.
Events
“It might sound ridiculous, but so it is,” said Anne-Ly Gross-Mitt, who leased the Suurupi lighthouses from the Estonian Maritime Administration and whose mother had worked as a lighthouse keeper for decades. Although, the lighthouse keeper position was abolished in Estonia as of 2004, the family continued living by the Suurupi lighthouse and had to disappoint many a visitor that …
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