Over the years the Oswego lighthouse has become more than just a beacon of danger for boats in Lake Ontario.

"It's become the symbol of the city and the people here are very very fond of the lighthouse," said city historian Rosemary Nesbitt.

Now the city could be very, very close to owning it. Currently owned by the Coast Guard, the city received word a couple of years ago that the lighthouse was up for distribution. The city quickly filed paperwork to make sure it wasn't put on the open market.

"We certainly wouldn't want our lighthouse, the city's lighthouse, to necessarily go into private hands," said Community Development Director Mary Vanouse.

Last month the Secretary of Interior helped their cause when he sent them a letter saying the city should own the lighthouse and told the General Services Administration to get the proper paperwork in order.

That would include a deed in accordance with the Historical Lighthouse Preservation Act, which would help transfer the federally-owned lighthouse to the city free of charge, as long as the city does a little maintenance to the lighthouse.

"There's a lot of work that needs to be done. It's been on deferred maintenance for about 15 years now," said Vanouse.

The city plans to turn the lighthouse into a tourist attraction, a project that would be spearheaded by the Lee White Marine Museum.

"It adds another depth to our exhibitory. We already have a small exhibit about the lighthouse and we'd like to go ahead and enhance that," said Museum Executive Director Mercedes Niess.

Once the purchase of the lighthouse becomes official it could take up to four to five years before it's open to the public. But if that happens, the lighthouse certainly has the potential to become the main tourist attraction here in the Port City.