Lighthouses have been in use for centuries. Offering a guiding light to sailors for generations. With the advent of modern day technology of GPS and modern navigational equipment, most lighthouses today are historical monuments of a forgotten era, however some still provide the same service they have served for years keeping watch along our shoreline. All along our coasts these majestic structures can still be visited today. Many have been restored back to their former glory, while many have been left to weather with age. This post will highlight some of those along the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Maine
Portland Headlight Lighthouse
Located in Cape Elizabeth, ME
Built in 1791
92 Feet Tall
Cape Neddick Lighthouse
Located in York Beach, ME
Built in 1879
88 Feet Tall
West Quoddy Lighthouse
Located in Lubec, ME
Original built in 1808, current structure built in 1858
49 Feet Tall
Located on the most eastern point in continental United States
Mohegan Island Lighthouse
Located in Mohegan Island, ME
Built in 1850
47 Feet Tall
Massachusetts
Sankaty Head Lighthouse
Located in Nantucket, MA
Built in 1850
70 Feet Tall
Great Point Lighthouse
Located in Wauwinet, MA
Built in 1986, is a replica of the tower built in 1818
Stands 60 Feet Tall
Cape Pope Lighthouse
Located in Chappaquiddick Island, MA
Originally Built in 1801, current tower was constructed in 1893 and is made of wood
Tower is 35 Feet tall
Nobska Lighthouse
Located in Wood Hole, MA
Originally built in 1829, current tower was constructed in 1876
Tower is 40 Feet Tall
Rhode Island
Point Judith Lighthouse
Located in Narragansett, RI
Originally built in 1810, current lighthouse was constructed in 1857
Tower is 51 Feet Tall
Interesting fact, the last World War II German U-Boat Submarine was sunk just off the coast here in 1945, after the surrender of Germany
Conimicut Lighthouse
Located in Warwick, RI
Originally built in 1868, current tower was constructed in 1883
Stands 58 Feet Tall
Rose Island Lighthouse
Located in Newport, RI
Built in 1870
Tower Stands 35 Feet Tall
Connecticut
Five Mile Point Lighthouse
Located in New Haven, CT
Originally built in 1805, Current lighthouse constructed in 1847
Tower Stands 70 Feet tall
Sheffield Island Lighthouse
Located in Norwalk, CT
Originally built in 1828, current lighthouse constructed in 1868
Tower Stands 44 Feet Tall
New York
Blackwell Island Lighthouse
Located in New York, NY
Built in 1872
Lighthouse is 50 Feet Tall
Montauk Point Lighthouse
Located in Montauk, NY
Built in 1796
Tower Stands 111 Feet Tall
Latimer Reef Lighthouse
Located in Fishers Island Sound, NY
Built in 1884
Stands 46 Feet Tall
New Jersey
Barnegat Lighthouse
Located in Barnegat, NJ
First built in 1835, current tower was constructed in 1859
Lighthouse stands 163 Feet Tall
Absecon Lighthouse
Located in Atlantic City, NJ
Built in 1857
Lighthouse stands 171 Feet Tall
Navesink Lighthouse (also know as the twin lights)
Located in Highlands, NJ
Built in 1862
Stands 73 Feet Tall
Delaware
Breakwater East End Lighthouse
Located in Lewes, DE
Built in 1885
Stands 49 Feet Tall
Maryland
Thomas Point Lighthouse
located in Thomas Point, MD
Built in 1875
Stands 43 Feet Tall
Virginia
Assateague Island Lighthouse
Located in Chincoteague, VA
Built in 1867
Lighthouse stands 142 Feet Tall
North Carolina
Currituck Lighthouse
Located in Corolla, NC
Built in 1875
Lighthouse stands 162 Feet Tall
Bodie Island lighthouse
Located in Nags Head, NC
Originally built inn 1847, current tower was constructed in 1872
Lighthouse is 156 Feet Tall
Okracoke Lighthouse
Located on Okracoke Island, NC
Originally built in 1798, current tower constructed in 1823
Lighthouse is 76 Feet Tall
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Located in Buxton, NC
Originally built in 1803, the current tower was constructed in 1870
Lighthouse is 210 feet Tall
South Carolina
Morris Island Lighthouse
Located on Morris Island, SC
Originally built in 1767, the current tower was constructed in 1876
Lighthouse stands 161 feet tall
(A replica of the Morris Island Lighthouse can be seen at Broadway at the Beach, in Myrtle Beach, SC)
Haig Point Lighthouse
Located on Daufuskie Island, SC
Built in 1873
Lighthouse is 61 feet Tall
Harbour Town Lighthouse
Located in Hilton Head, SC
Built in 1969
Tower stands 90 feet Tall
Georgia
Tybee Island Lighthouse
Located on Tybee Island, GA
Originally built in 1732, the current tower was constructed in 1916
The lighthouse stands 145 feet tall
Cockspur Lighthouse
Located in Chattham County, GA
Originally built in 1837, the current tower was constructed in 1855
The lighthouse stands 46 feet tall
Florida
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Located on Anastasia Island, FL
Originally built in 1737, the current tower was constructed in 1874
Lighthouse is 165 Feet Tall
Ponce de Leon lighthouse
Located on Ponce Island, FL
Built in 1835
Lighthouse stands 175 feet tall
Cape Florida Lighthouse
Located in Key Biscayne, FL
Originally built in 1825, the current tower was constructed in 1847
The lighthouse is 95 feet tall
Port Boca Grande Lighthouse
Located in Boca Grande, FL
Built in 1890
Lighthouse is 73 feet tall
Key West Lighthouse
Located in Whiteheads Point, FL
Built in 1849
Lighthouse stands 73 feet tall
These structures have watched over our coasts for hundreds of years. Visiting them takes you back to a bygone era when simple technology and craftsmanship served well.
Leave a Reply