Lighthouses are built on soft sand, mud, rock outcroppings, and land bars that jut out into the sea. They are built in places where there is a good view of an ocean or river and their light is visible for miles around. Weather conditions, such as fog, can sometimes limit the usefulness of the light and sounds such as horns and sirens are used and can be heard for several miles.

History

Egyptians ignited fires on high hilltops to guide their ships through the Nile River at night. When the amount of ships traveling the Nile increased the Egyptians built stone towers to serve as lighthouses.

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Pharos of Alexandria, also known as the Lighthouse of Alexandria, was a lighthouse built by the Egyptians and was once the tallest man-made structure on Earth. This lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos near Alexandria and was about 440 feet high. At the top of the tower several open fires were kept burning at night. This beacon was used for about 1,500 years. Two earthquakes destroyed the lighthouse in the 1300’s.

The first modern lighthouse was built on the famous Eddystone Rock outside Plymouth and was constructed by John Smeaton in 1759. John Smeaton built the lighthouse out of large blocks of interlocking stones that were held together by iron bars. The lighthouse was built on top of a submerged foundation.

Today some lighthouses are still in operation and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard and others are no longer in operation but are maintained by their communities and are visited by people around the globe. There are hundreds of lighthouses to visit within the United States and there are too many to list in one article. Below is a brief list of lighthouses on the Atlantic Coast to begin your journey. For a more comprehensive list visit the Maritime Heritage Program’s website at www.cr.nps.gov/maritime.

Lighthouses To Visit: North Atlantic Coast

Connecticut

The Avery Point lighthouse is located on the mouth of the Thames River and on the University of Connecticut, Avery Point Campus. This 41-foot concrete lighthouse was established in 1943 and first lit its beacon light in 1944. Since 1967 the light is no longer operational. The lighthouse grounds are open to the public but the lighthouse itself is not.

The Black Rock Harbor lighthouse is located on the south end of Fayerweather Island near Bridgeport in Fairfield County. This lighthouse was first activated in 1817 and was deactivated in 1932. Throughout the years this lighthouse has fallen victim to vandalism and neglect but now it has been restored and has been relit although it is not used as a navigational aid.

Maine

Built in 1835, the Curtis Island lighthouse is located at the Camden Harbor entrance in Penobscot Bay in Knox County. Curtis Island was named after Cyrus Curtis, the founder of the Saturday Evening Post. This lighthouse is operated by the Coast Guard and is still an active aid to navigation.

The Pemaquid Point lighthouse is located in Pemaquid Point at the entrance to Muscongus Bay in Lincoln County. This 38-foot tall lighthouse was established in 1827, has been rebuilt, and is still in operation. The area surrounding this lighthouse has been designated as the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park. The old keeper’s house has been converted into a Fisherman’s Museum that displays exhibits on the history of the local fishing and lobstering industries.

Massachusetts

The Marblehead lighthouse is located in the Chandler Hovey Park on Marblehead Neck in Massachusetts Bay. The station was established in 1835 and the light was first lit in 1896. This lighthouse is made of cast iron and is skeletal rather than enclosed with brick or rock. The grounds are open year-round but to tour the lighthouse you must do so by special arrangement.

Scituate lighthouse is located at Cedar Point in Scituate Harbor in Plymouth County and was established in 1811. This 50-foot tower still stands next to the original keeper’s quarters. This lighthouse is now used as a private aid to navigation. The daughter’s of the first lighthouse keeper play an important role in Scituate history during the War of 1812.

New Jersey

The fortress-like Navesink Twin lighthouse, located in Lower New York Bay, was the primary lighthouse for New York Bay and is still used as a private aid to navigation. The lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Shrewsbury River, Raritan Bay, and Sandy Hook. The lighthouse was first lit in 1862. The South Tower is no longer in operation but the North Tower is currently in operation and houses it’s own museum.

New York

The Fire Island lighthouse is located on Fire Island in Suffolk County and was established in 1827. Fourteen oil lamps lighted the original 89-foot stone tower until in the 1850’s when it was determined that more modern lighting was needed. It was torn down and replaced with a 167-foot brick tower that was later encased with cement and painted. The original keeper’s quarter has been converted into a museum. Tours of the tower are offered several times a week but it is recommended that reservations be made in advance.

The Stony Point lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson River. It is located in Stony Point in Rockland County and was built, along with a keeper’s house, by Thomas Phillips. In 1925, the original lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by a light, steel tower built closer to the shoreline. Weekend tours are available between April and October. Call in advance for exact times and dates.

Rhode Island

The Rose Island lighthouse is located north of Newport Harbor in Newport County and was established in 1870. In the past this lighthouse was vandalized but was restored in the 1980’s. The Rose Island lighthouse is open to the public and overnight lodging is available. This lighthouse offers the chance of a lifetime if you are up to the challenge. Apartments are available for anyone who wishes to stay a week and act as keeper of the lighthouse. Keepers are responsible for daily tasks such as raising the flag, recording weather, electric, and water data, as well as performing regular maintenance. Call for reservations because this lighthouse is usually booked up for long periods of time.

Lighthouses To Visit: Mid Atlantic Coast

Delaware

The Fenwick Island lighthouse is located on the Delaware/Maryland border in Sussex County and was established in 1859. Because more than one person was required to operate the lighthouse two keeper’s dwellings were built next to it. This 87-foot lighthouse originally used lard oil but was converted into kerosene in 1879. It is now home to a museum and is lit as a private aid to navigation.

Maryland

The Piney Point lighthouse sits on the Potomac River west of Piney Point in St. Mary’s County and was established in 1836. Piney Point has been a popular vacation spot for past presidents and other notable Americans so it is often called the “Lighthouse of Presidents.”

North Carolina

The Bald Head, or “Old Baldy”, lighthouse sits on Bald Head Island near the Cape Fear River in Southport. It’s light was first lit in 1817 but is no longer operational. This lighthouse is North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse. The Smith Island Museum is housed in the replica of original 1850’s keeper’s cottage. The museum commemorates more than 400 years of maritime history.

The Ocracoke Island lighthouse is located in Ocracoke, Hyde County and was established in 1803. The existing tower was constructed in 1823. This lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina that is still in operation.

Virginia

The Jones Point lighthouse is located on the Potomac River in Jones Point Park in Alexandria. This lighthouse is, literally, a light built within a house and looks nothing like the traditional lighthouse used all over the world. It was established in 1856 and was originally fueled with whale oil and later with gas. It is surrounded by a 50-acre park and is next to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. In 1926 it was replaced by a steel frame tower and was discontinued. The National Park Service now maintains this lighthouse.

The Old Point Comfort lighthouse sits near the entrance to Hampton Roads Harbor in Hampton. This lighthouse was established in 1774 and its light was first lit in 1802. A keepers dwelling was added to the property in 1900. This 54-foot tall tower still houses the original 4th order Fresnel lens that was installed in the 1850’s. The Old Point Comfort lighthouse is still in use today as an aid to navigation.

Lighthouses to Visit: South Atlantic Coast

Florida

The Jupiter Inlet light is located in Jupiter at the Loxahatchee and Indian River Junction in Palm Beach County. This 125-foot tower first had its light lit in 1860 and is still in operation. It houses a museum and is open to visitors.

The Tortugas Harbor, or Fort Jefferson, lighthouse is located near Key West on the Dry Tortugas Islands. The existing tower was constructed in 1876 and is still in operation today as a private aid to navigation. This lighthouse is owned and maintained by the National Park Service.

Georgia

The Cockspur Island lighthouse is currently part of the Fort Pulaski National Monument and is maintained by the National Park Service. It is located on the Savannah River, north of Tybee Island. The existing tower was constructed in 1857 and was deactivated in 1909. In 1949 it was abandoned by the Coast Guard and turned over to the National Park Service. Access to this lighthouse is by personal boat only.

The St. Simons Island lighthouse is located in St. Simons Sound in Brunswick. The original tower was built in 1811 but was destroyed by Confederate soldiers. The tower was replaced with a 104-foot tower in 1872. This lighthouse still houses its original 3rd order Fresnel lens and original keeper’s quarters. Picnic grounds, a museum, and the tower itself are open to the public.

South Carolina

The Hunting Island lighthouse is located in Beaufort within the Hunting Island State Park. This lighthouse was established in 1859 and is no longer operational. It was originally constructed of curved cast iron plates bolted together so that it could be moved easily. Due to erosion the lighthouse did have to be moved in 1889. The interior of the lighthouse was then lined with brick to make it more stable.