The interior state of Illinois has a number of historic light stations on Lake Michigan, in the Chicago area, and several pier head lights. In addition, the Chicago Department of Water maintains lights on its four current or former water intake cribs. There are also many navigational lights on the Mississippi River, on the western border of the state, and on the Illinois Waterway, a connecting waterway between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi.

There is no Chicago area lighthouse preservation group and preservation attention has focused almost entirely on the well-known Grosse Pointe Light in Evanston. The pierhead lights of Illinois and Indiana, however, may need to be defended against demolition in the future.

Aids to navigation in Illinois are maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team which is based at Two Rivers, Wisconsin, but ownership and sometimes the operation of historic lighthouses, in many cases has been transferred to local authorities and preservation organizations.

Belmont Harbor Inner Light

Chicago Harbor Light

Chicago River Southeast GuideWall

Dunne Crib Light (68th Street Crib)

Farwell Avenus Breakwater Light

Foster Avenue Breakwater Light

Four Mile Crib Light

Grosse Point

Hollywood Avenue Breakwater Light

Montrose Harbor Breakwater Light

Montrose Harbor East Breakwater Light

Montrose Harbor West Breakwater Light

North Avenue Jetty Light

Waukegan Breakwater Light

Waukegan Harbor Light

William E. Dever Crib Light

Wilson Avenue Crib Light

Avery Light

Cal-Sag Junction Light

Chillicother Island Light

Drolls Point Light

East Peorial Light

Ivy Club Breakwater Light

Ivy Club Light

Longmans Landing Light

Rome Light

Sand Point Light

Seneca Light

Michaud Light

Metropolis Hope Light

Cairo Point Light

St. Louis Water Intake Light

Grafton Light

Quinsippi Light

Fabyan Light

Frank Holton State Park Light

Piasa Chautaugua Light

Calument Harbor Light

Carter Harrison Crib Light

Chicago Light

Chicago North Pier Light

Chicago North Pierhead Range Front Light

Little Fort Light

Port Clinton

Taylorsport Light

Twelfth Street Crib Light

Two Mile Crib Light